Brentford are in discussions with Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk about using the Gtech Community Stadium as the host venue for Shakhtar's UEFA Champions League matches during the 2026-27 season.

Shakhtar have been granted direct entry into the league phase of next season's competition. The club originally qualified for the third qualifying round, but were elevated to the league phase after UEFA Champions League holders Paris St-Germain had already secured a place in the competition by winning Ligue 1.

Playing away from home

Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine has forced Shakhtar to play all their European home fixtures outside the country. During the previous season, their matches were staged across Ljubljana in Slovenia and Krakow in Poland.

A Shakhtar official confirmed that negotiations are underway:

"Shakhtar is currently negotiating with several venues in the United Kingdom and Germany in order to secure a host stadium for its Uefa Champions League matches next season. We will not comment on the process until a decision is announced in the near future."

Brentford's stadium meets UEFA's requirements for Champions League hosting, and it is understood UEFA would raise no objections, provided local authorities grant the necessary permissions.

A familiar revenue stream

The Gtech Community Stadium has a track record of hosting events beyond Brentford's own fixtures. The club has previously rented the ground for non-England international friendlies, as well as tournaments such as the Women's World Sevens football competition — a female seven-a-side tournament — and regards these arrangements as a meaningful source of additional income.

The stadium also hosted four matches during the 2021 Women's European Championships — staged a year late because of the coronavirus pandemic — including Germany's quarter-final victory over Austria. More recently, it has welcomed a 2023 men's international friendly between Australia and New Zealand, the 2025 Unity Cup, and the 2026 edition of the Women's World Sevens football tournament in May.

London's European picture

With Chelsea and Tottenham both having failed to qualify for European football in 2026-27, Arsenal and Crystal Palace are the only London clubs with continental commitments next season. Palace, competing in the UEFA Europa League, are expected to play the majority of their fixtures on Thursdays. Arsenal, like Shakhtar, will alternate between Tuesday and Wednesday Champions League nights — meaning the west London scheduling calendar is somewhat less congested than in previous seasons.