UEFA Champions League Draw Overview
The UEFA Champions League is back following the 2026 World Cup. The league-phase draw occurs on Thursday, August 27, after four rounds of qualifying. The competition’s initial stage begins on Tuesday, September 8.
Paris Saint-Germain claimed their second consecutive title last season, beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Budapest. All 36 qualified teams aim for the 2026-27 final, scheduled for June at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid. The draw will outline their paths.
Champions League Draw Timing and Coverage
The draw for this year’s league phase takes place today, Thursday, August 27, at 5pm BST/12pm ET in Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum. It follows the conclusion of the final qualifying matches.
The Europa League and Conference League draws occur on Friday, August 28, at 12pm BST. Coverage of the Champions League draw is available on UEFA’s website, UEFA.com. In the UK, it can also be viewed on TNT Sports 1 and the TNT Sports YouTube channel.
Champions League Draw Mechanics
The 36 teams divide into four pots of nine based on their UEFA club coefficient rankings, reflecting performances over the last five years. Pot 1 features the highest-rated teams, while Pot 4 has the lowest-rated.
Starting with Pot 1, balls representing each club are drawn individually, typically by notable football personalities. UEFA’s supercomputer assigns league-phase opponents, determining two from each pot for a total of eight matches, split between home and away. No teams from the same country face off in this stage.
Team Placement in Pots
Pot 1: Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid.
Pot 2: Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Sporting CP, Aston Villa, Porto, Manchester United, Club Brugge, Real Betis, PSV.
Pot 3: Feyenoord, Lille, Bodo/Glimt, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce.
Pot 4: Slavia Prague, Stuttgart, LASK, Como, Lens, Sabah, Viking, Slovan Bratislava, AEK Athens.
Fixture Announcement and Schedule
UEFA will announce all match details, including dates and kick-off times, by Saturday, August 29. The league phase starts on Tuesday, September 8, and culminates on Wednesday, January 27, with a simultaneous 18-match set.
Potential Club Opponents
Every team can play against two opponents from each pot, excluding those from their country. New restrictions for 2026-27 prevent any two clubs from playing the same fixture in three consecutive seasons.
This rule affects Arsenal and Liverpool. Arsenal cannot play Inter in Milan for a third consecutive season, ensuring they face a non-English Pot 1 team away. Liverpool will have new Pot 1 opponents at Anfield, excluding repeat matches with Madrid.