UEFA unveils pots and rules for Champions League 2025/26 draw this Thursday

The UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league phase draw, scheduled for August 28, 2025, in Monaco, will determine the matchups for 36 clubs in Europe’s premier football competition. Set for 12 PM (Brasília time), the event at the Grimaldi Forum will use automated software to assign opponents in a revamped league phase that replaces the traditional group stage. The full match calendar will be released by August 30, with the Europa League and Conference League draws following on August 29. The format, introduced last season, aims to boost competitiveness and diversity in matchups, featuring clubs like PSG, Real Madrid, and Manchester City as favorites.

The tournament, in its 71st edition, promises a season of historic clashes, with 29 teams already qualified for the league phase and seven spots to be decided through qualifiers. The final is set for May 30, 2026, at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna. The Monaco event not only sets the stage but also underscores the competition’s global prominence, with live broadcasts on TNT Sports and Max.

• Key initial dates:
• First round: September 16–18, 2025
• Second round: September 30–October 1, 2025
• Final: May 30, 2026, in Budapest

New format boosts competitiveness

The UEFA Champions League 2025/26 retains the format introduced last season, with 36 teams competing in a single league phase instead of traditional four-team groups. Each club will face eight different opponents, playing four home and four away matches, selected evenly from four pots. The system, using software to draw matchups, prevents same-country clashes, except for nations with four or more clubs, like England, Spain, Italy, and Germany, where a maximum of two same-country opponents is allowed.

This model aims to increase matchup variety and excitement from the early rounds. The league phase, running from September 2025 to January 2026, directly qualifies the top eight teams for the round of 16. Teams ranked 9th to 24th enter a two-leg playoff for eight additional spots, while those from 25th to 36th are eliminated. The change reflects UEFA’s commitment to a more dynamic and fan-friendly competition.

• Draw rules:
• Each team faces two clubs from each pot.
• No matchups between same-country teams.
• Maximum of two same-country opponents for nations with multiple clubs.
• Automated software assigns home/away status and opponents.

Champions League qualifying play-off round 🍿#UCL pic.twitter.com/FOHoZVp2eY

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 18, 2025

Pots feature European football giants

The 36 league-phase clubs are split into four pots based on UEFA coefficients, with defending champions PSG secured as a top seed in pot 1. The pots include elite teams and surprises from smaller leagues, showcasing the competition’s diversity. Pot 1 features heavyweights like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich, while pots 2, 3, and 4 include clubs like Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle, and emerging sides like Union Saint-Gilloise and Ferencváros.

Seven spots remain open, pending qualifiers, with matchups like Benfica vs. Nice and Feyenoord vs. Fenerbahçe deciding the final entrants. The playoff rounds, set for August 19/20 and 26/27, are critical for clubs aiming for the league phase. The pot structure ensures balance but allows for upsets, with lesser-known teams potentially shaking things up.

• Confirmed pots:
• Pot 1: PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern, Liverpool, Inter, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona
• Pot 2: Arsenal, Leverkusen, Atlético de Madrid, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, Eintracht (Benfica and Club Brugge pending)
• Pot 3: Tottenham, PSV, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting, Olympiacos, Slavia Praga, Marseille (Bodo/Glimt pending)
• Pot 4: Monaco, Ferencváros, Galatasaray, Union SG, Athletic, Newcastle

Technology drives innovative draw

The 2025/26 Champions League draw employs software developed by AeLive, introduced last season to streamline the process. Unlike traditional draws with physical balls for all matchups, the system starts with a manual team selection, followed by automated assignment of eight opponents. This reduces ceremony time and ensures fairness, adhering to same-country matchup restrictions.

The technology also sets home and away games, ensuring each team plays four matches at each venue. The innovation, well-received in 2024/25 despite initial criticism from clubs like Arsenal over knockout-stage home/away assignments, has been refined. For 2025/26, UEFA adjusted rules to give the top four league-phase teams home advantage in the quarterfinals and semifinals’ second legs, rewarding strong performances.

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Qualifying phase finalizes contenders

Before the draw, the Champions League 2025/26 qualifying phase is in its final stage, with playoffs on August 19/20 and 26/27. Matchups like Celtic vs. Slovan Bratislava and Basel vs. Copenhagen will determine the final pot 2 and 3 teams. Winners advance to the league phase, while losers move to the Europa League, securing a second chance in continental play.

Qualifying began on July 8 with the first preliminary round, followed by further stages in July and August. Each round features two-leg ties based on UEFA club coefficients. The inclusion of five national champions in qualifying, up from four, reflects the tournament’s expansion, now featuring 82 teams from 53 UEFA member federations, excluding Liechtenstein and Russia, the latter currently suspended.

• Qualifying timeline:
• First preliminary round: July 8/9 and 15/16, 2025
• Second preliminary round: July 22/23 and 29/30, 2025
• Third preliminary round: August 5/6 and 12, 2025
• Playoff round: August 19/20 and 26/27, 2025

Europa League and Conference League gain spotlight

For the first time, the Europa League and Conference League draws will occur simultaneously on August 29, one day after the Champions League draw. UEFA’s initiative aims to boost visibility for both competitions, featuring high-profile clubs like Roma and Aston Villa in the Europa League and rising teams in the Conference League. The joint event, also using automated draw software, will be broadcast live, tailored to each tournament’s rules.

In the Europa League, pot 1 includes Betis, Porto, and Feyenoord, while the Conference League highlights teams like Panathinaikos. The move underscores UEFA’s push to integrate its competitions, creating a unified narrative for European football. The Europa League’s league phase starts on September 25, with the Conference League kicking off on October 2.

Expectations for the 2025/26 season

The Champions League 2025/26 promises to be one of the most balanced editions in recent years, blending traditional powerhouses with newcomers. PSG, fresh off a 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in the 2024/25 final, enters as a favorite but faces stiff competition from Real Madrid, with 15 titles, and Manchester City, eager to reclaim dominance. Pot 4 teams like Newcastle and Athletic Bilbao could spring surprises, leveraging the format’s unpredictable matchups.

The league phase, spanning eight rounds until January 28, 2026, leads to the knockout playoffs on February 11 and 19. The round of 16 starts on March 4, with the final set for Budapest’s Puskás Aréna, hosting its first Champions League decider. The winner secures a spot in the 2026/27 league phase, the UEFA Super Cup, and the 2029 Club World Cup.

Key knockout dates:

• Knockout playoffs: February 11 and 19, 2026
• Round of 16: March 4/5 and 11/12, 2026
• Quarterfinals: April 8/9 and 15/16, 2026
• Semifinals: April 29/30 and May 6/7, 2026