Brentford in talks to host Shakhtar's Champions League games

Brentford Football Club is in discussions to host Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk’s home Champions League matches at the Gtech Community Stadium for the upcoming 2026-27 season. The arrangement would bring elite European football to the 17,000-seat west London ground despite Brentford’s own absence from continental competition this year.

Shakhtar, who won the 2025-26 Ukrainian Premier League, have been forced to play their European matches outside of Ukraine for over a decade due to the ongoing conflict in the country. The club has used various neutral venues across Europe in recent seasons, including Krakow last year and cities such as Warsaw, Hamburg, and Gelsenkirchen in prior campaigns. Brentford’s stadium meets UEFA’s infrastructure standards for Champions League fixtures, and with the Premier League club having no European commitments of their own, the venue’s midweek calendar is available.

While talks are ongoing, no official agreement has been finalized. The arrangement would require approval from multiple stakeholders, including UEFA and local authorities. Other venues in Poland and Germany are also reportedly under consideration as potential hosts for Shakhtar’s...