MIES (Switzerland) - The Basketball Champions League Board ratified on Tuesday the list of 29 clubs with a direct berth in the 2025-26 BCL Regular Season, as well as the 24 clubs that will compete in the Qualification Round tournaments for the remaining three tickets to the 32-team Regular Season.
The complete lineup features 16 national league champions, eight of which are in the Regular Season. Out of the 29 teams entering the Regular Season directly, 10 are newcomers to the BCL.
While continental powerhouses ALBA BERLIN, Dreamland Gran Canaria and Joventut Badalona are bringing in extensive experience in European club competitions, others like Karditsa Iaponiki, Mersin Sports Club, MLP Academics Heidelberg, and Trapani Shark are making their international debut by virtue of their exceptional performances in their respective domestic leagues.
La Laguna Tenerife, alongside AEK Betsson BC and Filou Oostende, are members of a truly special club, as the only three clubs to have participated in every season of the Basketball Champions League.
These are, in alphabetical order, the first 29 teams in the Regular Season lineup (three more teams will emerge from the Qualification Round tournaments), the national champions marked with an asterisk:
AEK Betsson BC (GRE); ALBA BERLIN (GER); Bnei Penlink Herzliya (ISR); Cholet Basket (FRA); Dreamland Gran Canaria (ESP); ERA Nymburk* (CZE); Filou Oostende* (BEL); FIT/One Wurzburg Baskets (GER); Galatasaray (TUR); Hapoel Netanel Holon (ISR); Igokea m:tel* (BIH); Joventut Badalona (ESP); Karditsa Iaponiki (GRE); La Laguna Tenerife (ESP); Le Mans Sarthe Basket (FRA); Mersin Sports Club (TUR); MLP Academics Heidelberg (GER); NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz* (HUN); Pallacanestro Trieste (ITA); Promitheas Patras Vikos Cola (GRE); Rytas Vilnius (LTU); Sabah BC* (AZE); SL Benfica* (POR); Spartak Office Shoes (SRB); Tofas Bursa (TUR); Trapani Shark (ITA); Unicaja (ESP); VEF Riga* (LAT); and the champions of Poland (Start Lublin or Legia Warszawa).
Further eight champions are in the Qualification Rounds, ranging from Denmark (Bakken Bears) to Cyprus (AEK Larnaca). There could be another champion in there, as SC Derby are in the Montenegrin League Finals.
The 24 clubs that will compete in the Qualification Round will be drawn into three tournaments, with the winner of each tournament advancing to the Regular Season.
These are the 24 teams, in alphabetical order, the national champions marked with an asterisk:
Bakken Bears* (DEN); Bursaspor Basketbol (TUR); CSM CSU Oradea (ROU); Elan Chalon (FRA); Falco Szombathely (HUN); Fribourg Olympic Basket (SUI); Heroes Den Bosch* (NED); Juventus Utena (LTU); Kalev/Cramo* (EST); Karhu Basket Kauhajoki (FIN); Kutaisi 2010* (GEO); Lowen Braunschweig (GER); PAOK mateco (GRE); Patrioti Levice* (SVK); Pelister Bitola (MKD); Petrolina AEK Larnaca* (CYP); Porto (POR); Pallacanestro Reggiana (ITA); Rilski Sportist* (BUL); SC Derby (MNE); Trepca* (KOS); UCAM Murcia (ESP); Windrose Giants Antwerp (BEL); and the runners-up from the Polish League.
The Qualification Round tournaments will take place from September 23 to 28, while the Regular Season will get underway on October 7, 2025.
The draw ceremony for the Regular Season groups and the Qualification Round tournaments will take place in Lausanne, Switzerland on Wednesday, July 2, and will be livestreamed on the official BCL YouTube channel.
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About Basketball Champions League The Basketball Champions League is an innovative joint partnership between FIBAClubCo and 11 top European leagues. It is a fair competition based on sporting principles, with teams qualifying through their national leagues.
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