Champions League Knockouts Draw: Playoff Draw Schedule, Where to Watch, Brackets and Qualified Teams

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League has wrapped up its thrilling league phase, setting the stage for the knockout rounds. With 36 teams battling through eight matchdays, the top 24 have advanced, while the bottom

12 bow out.

The focus now shifts to the knockout play-off draw, which will determine the path for teams vying for the remaining spots in the round of 16.

Champions League Knockouts Draw Date, Time, and Location

The knockout play-off draw is scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026, at 12:00 CET (11:00 GMT / 6:00 a.m. ET) at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. The event comes just a day after the league phase concluded on January 29, ensuring fresh momentum into the knockouts.

Champions League Play-Off Bracket Details and Format

In the new Champions League format, the top eight teams from the league phase qualify directly for the round of 16. The remaining 16 (positions 9-24) enter the two-legged play-off round.

These are divided into seeded (9th-16th) and unseeded (17th-24th) pots. Seeded teams host the second leg and cannot face clubs from the same association or opponents they met in the league phase.

Knockout Playoffs

Teams ranked 9th to 24th in the 36-team league phase enter single-elimination two-legged ties. Seeded teams (9th-16th) face unseeded ones (17th-24th) in a fixed bracket split into four paths, with seeds hosting the second leg. The 8 winning teams advance to join the top 8 teams directly into the Round of 16.

UEFA Champions League 2025-26 Playoff Brackets

As per the UEFA Champions League new rules, here are the Playoff Brackets as the teams of the same bracket would play the alternate teams-

Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund or Olympiacos

Real Madrid or Inter Milan vs Bodo/Glimt or Benfica

PSG or Newcastle vs AS Monaco or Qarabag FK

Juventus or Atletico Madrid vs Club Brugge or Galarasaray

UCL 2025-26 Knockouts Schedule

Knockout playoff round: Feb. 17-18, Feb. 24-25

Round of 16/quarterfinal/semifinal draw: Feb. 27

Round of 16: March 10-11, March 17-18

Quarterfinals: April 7-8, April 14-15

Semifinals: April 28-29, May 5-6

Final: May 30 (Budapest)

Champions League Knockouts Draw Live Streaming and Telecast

The UCL knockouts draw will telecast on the Sony Sports network on Friday (January 30) from 4:30 PM IST. The live-streaming is available on Sony LIV app and website.