Benfica hosted Real Madrid on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs, as European club football resumed after a winter break. The match is one of several key contests determining which teams will advance to the knockout stages of the competition.
Alongside Benfica versus Real Madrid, Monaco faced Paris Saint-Germain and Club Brugge played Atlético de Madrid on February 17 and 18. These matches are particularly significant as both PSG and Real Madrid are being assessed as potential contenders for the Champions League title, according to recent expert analysis.
Further playoff matches are scheduled for February 19 in the Europa League, featuring PAOK against Celta de Vigo, Brann versus Bologna, and Celtic taking on Stuttgart. The Conference League also resumes on the same day with matches including Noah against AZ Alkmaar, Zrinjski facing Crystal Palace, and Jagiellonia Białystok playing Fiorentina.
Away from the Champions League, the Winter Olympic Games concluded on Sunday, February 23, in Verona, Italy. Norway led the medal count with a total of 27 medals – 12 gold, 7 silver, and 8 bronze – representing performance across 16 disciplines and participation from 92 countries.
Major League Soccer (MLS) is set to begin its 2026 season on Saturday, February 21, with 13 games on the schedule, including a match between LAFC and Inter Miami, the reigning champions. This will be the 31st MLS season, and the second consecutive year with 30 teams, divided into two conferences of 15 teams each. The league will adjust its format in 2027 to align with the FIFA calendar, and will pause play from May 25 to July 16 to accommodate the World Cup.
In Mexico’s Liga MX, the Clausura 2026 tournament has seen several surprising results in Matchday 6. América lost to Chivas as a visitor for the first time since 2017, while Mazatlán secured their first victory since October 2025 with a win over Santos. Cruz Azul also saw a notable moment as Nicolas Ibáñez scored against his former team, Tigres. Guadalajara currently leads the league table with 18 points, achieving six consecutive wins – a feat not seen since the 2010 Bicentenario tournament.
Formula 1 has confirmed that the Barcelona Grand Prix will remain at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the 2028, 2030, and 2032 seasons. This arrangement will alternate with the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, which will host the race in 2027, 2029, and 2031. The Barcelona circuit has been a fixture in Formula 1 since 1991.
