UEFA Champions League 2025-2026: Draw date announced

UEFA has announced the draw date for the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League league phase, set for August 28, 2025, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

Image | UEFA.com

The draw date for the UEFA Champions League 2025-2026 league phase has been officially announced by UEFA. The highly anticipated draw ceremony is scheduled to take place on August 28, 2025, at the prestigious Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. This event will set the stage for the second season under the revamped Champions League format.

The format of the draw

Unlike previous seasons, where the competition involved traditional groups, the 2025-26 Champions League continues with the innovative league-style format. A total of 36 teams will compete in this phase, divided into four pots based on their UEFA club coefficient rankings.

The reigning Champions League holders, PSG, are automatically placed as the top seed in pot 1. Each team will play eight different opponents, facing two teams from each pot, one match at home and one away.

The draw will ensure that teams do not play against clubs from their own association more than twice, adding a fascinating layer of complexity to the fixture list.

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The top eight teams in the league standings after these matches will advance directly to the Round of 16. Meanwhile, teams finishing from 9th to 24th place will compete in two-legged knockout playoffs to fight for a spot in the next stage. Those ranking below 25th will be eliminated from the competition entirely. The interesting part is that teams below 25th in the points table will not enter the Europa League.

Confirmed teams for the UEFA Champions League 2025/26

So far, 29 of the 36 teams have confirmed their participation in the league phase, including European giants such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus. Newly qualified clubs like Union Saint-Gilloise are also set to make their debut appearances.

The rest of the clubs will join the draw after qualifying from the Play-offs round.

Confirmed teams

Ajax, Arsenal, Atalanta, Athletic Club, Atleti, B. Dortmund, Barcelona, Bayern München, Chelsea, Frankfurt, Galatasaray, Inter, Juventus, Leverkusen, Liverpool, Man City, Marseille, Monaco, Napoli, Newcastle, Olympiacos, Paris, PSV, Real Madrid, Slavia Praha, Sporting CP, Tottenham, Union SG, Villarreal

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When does the UEFA Champions League start?

The matchday 1 of the league phase, following the draw, will take place between September 16 and 18, 2025, and will continue until the final regular league matchday on January 28, 2026.

The final of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 will take place on May 30, 2026, at the iconic Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary.

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