The CEV Board of Administration has officially granted two wild card entries for the direct-entry pool stage of the 2026/2027 CEV Champions League Women. This strategic decision elevates two prominent European clubs straight into the continent's elite tier for the upcoming season.
Galatasaray Daikin ISTANBUL secured their spot in Europe's premier tournament for the first time since 2018. Having captured the 2026 CEV Cup title earlier this year, the Turkish squad was originally projected to compete in the third-tier Challenge Cup. This wildcard allows them to bypass the lower competition completely for a high-profile return to the top flight.
Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA was similarly granted a top-tier upgrade. The 2019 Champions League winners finished fourth in the Italian Lega Femminile Serie A and suffered a narrow Golden Set elimination against Scandicci in last season's playoffs. 
While they were originally slated to contest the second-tier CEV Cup for the 2026/2027 season, this wildcard entry allows them to skip the lower division entirely and head straight to Round.
Photos: European Volleyball