The road to the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League is entering its final stretch. UEFA has confirmed that the league phase draw will take place on Thursday, August 27, with Europe’s top clubs finally learning their opponents for the season’s opening stage.
The draw will be held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, after the conclusion of the qualifying playoffs, whose second legs are scheduled for August 25 and 26. Once those ties are settled, the full 36-team lineup for Europe’s premier club competition will be complete.
Final Qualification Spots Still Up For Grabs
Thirty teams have already secured their places through their domestic league finishes, while the remaining six spots will be decided via the ongoing Champions League qualifying playoffs.
England once again leads the way with six representatives, including Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa. Spain has five clubs in the league phase, while Germany, Italy and France each have four.
There are plenty of notable storylines. Manchester United, Aston Villa, Roma, Lille and Shakhtar Donetsk return to the competition after absences, while Italian side Como will make its Champions League debut.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain heads into the campaign as the team to beat. Luis Enrique’s side has won the last two Champions League titles under the revamped format and will be chasing a remarkable third consecutive European crown.
How The League Phase Works
The Champions League will continue with the league-phase format introduced in the 2024-25 season.
All 36 teams are placed into four seeding pots. Each club plays eight matches against eight different opponents — four at home and four away — with two opponents drawn from each pot.
The top eight teams in the standings qualify directly for the Round of 16. Teams finishing between ninth and 24th enter a two-legged knockout playoff, with the winners advancing to the last 16. Clubs placed 25th or lower are eliminated.
The league phase begins on September 8 and concludes on January 27, 2027, before the competition moves into the knockout rounds.
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