The 2026 Ligue 1 season is set to kick off on August 1st, with many clubs looking to make their mark in the new league format that will be introduced next year. One of the biggest changes coming into play is the introduction of a new "McDonald's Cup" for the season.

The McDonald's Cup is similar to the UEFA Champions League cup, which is known as the "Big 5" competition, but it is different because it is not based on a single club, but rather a combination of teams from various countries. The competition was established in 2009 and has since grown to include over 400 clubs from around the world.

For the 2026 season, there will be four divisions in the Ligue 1, with each division containing eight teams. Each team will have two home matches against other teams from its own division, while each team will also face four away matches against other teams from the other three divisions.

In addition to the McDonald's Cup, there will also be several other changes to the league format this season. For example, the number of points awarded to each team will increase from five to seven, and the top six teams in each division will automatically qualify for the Europa League group stage. This means that the top two teams from each division will compete in the group stage of the Europa League, while the third and fourth placed teams will then compete in the knockout stages.

Overall, the introduction of the McDonald's Cup and the increased number of points awarded to each team is expected to create a more competitive environment for the clubs involved. However, it is also likely that some clubs may struggle to keep up with the pace of the league, especially if they do not have enough players or financial resources to invest in youth development. Ultimately, only time will tell how well the McDonald's Cup will live up to its name and whether it will become a staple fixture at the end of the season.