On Thursday, August 28, 2025, UEFA held the draw for the league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League in Monaco, defining the matchups for the second edition of the tournament featuring a new 36-team format, replacing the traditional group stage. The competition, which began its qualifiers in July, brings together giants like Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning champions, and debutants like Kairat Almaty, promising thrilling clashes until the final, set for May 30, 2026, at Puskás Aréna in Budapest. With eight rounds ahead, teams vie for top-table positions to secure direct spots in the round of 16 or playoffs. The event, attended by icons like Kaká and Ibrahimovic, marked the official start of the European season.
The draw split the 36 teams into four pots based on UEFA coefficients, ensuring balanced matchups and restrictions, such as prohibiting games between teams from the same country. Each club will face eight different opponents, with four home and four away matches, in a system that boosts competitiveness and total games. The league phase, running from September 2025 to January 2026, determines the top eight teams advancing directly to the round of 16, while those from 9th to 24th compete in playoffs.
- Key pot 1 teams: Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Manchester City.
- Tournament newcomers: Kairat Almaty and Pafos, less traditional clubs, earned their spots.
- Draw restrictions: Teams from the same country cannot face each other, with a maximum of two opponents from the same nation per team.
- Main goal: Secure a top-eight position to bypass the playoffs.
The absence of Russian clubs, due to UEFA’s ban since 2022, and Liechtenstein, which lacks a domestic league, shaped the tournament’s composition. The presence of six English clubs, including Tottenham, which secured a spot by winning the 2024/25 Europa League, is a highlight of this edition.
New format boosts competitiveness
The 2025/26 Champions League retains the format introduced last season, with a unified league phase replacing traditional groups. Each team plays eight matches against different opponents, ensuring greater matchup diversity. Known as the “Swiss model,” this system was designed to heighten excitement and avoid predictable games. A single table ranks the 36 teams, with final positions determining the knockout path.
The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while those from 9th to 24th compete in two-leg playoffs. Teams below 24th are eliminated without a chance for Europa League relegation, raising the stakes from the start. The format also scraps the away goals tiebreaker rule, with extra time and penalties deciding ties in the knockout stages.
- Format benefits: More high-level clashes and fewer lopsided matches.
- Impact on clubs: Consistency across eight rounds demands strong squads.
- Strategic focus: Teams prioritize home wins to rack up crucial points.
The final, set for Puskás Aréna, will be Budapest’s first time hosting the Champions League decider, after staging the 2023 Europa League final. The winner earns a spot in the next season’s league phase, plus participation in the UEFA Super Cup and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
✅ Home and away opponents for Pot 1 teams 🏠✈️#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/mWi7lwxw3I
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 28, 2025
Key matchups from the draw
The draw unveiled clashes set to thrill fans. Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champions, face challenges like Bayern Munich at home and Barcelona away. Record titleholders Real Madrid will take on Manchester City and Liverpool in tough battles. The inclusion of clubs like Kairat Almaty and Pafos, which shone in qualifiers, adds unpredictability to the competition.
Bayern Munich, for instance, faces a demanding schedule, playing Chelsea and Arsenal away but with winnable games against Pafos and Union Saint-Gilloise. Chelsea, bolstered after winning the Conference League, take on Barcelona at home and Napoli away, testing their consistency. Manchester City, perennial favorites, face Real Madrid away and Borussia Dortmund at home, in matchups that could shape the table’s top spots.
- Standout games: PSG vs. Bayern, Real Madrid vs. Manchester City, Chelsea vs. Barcelona.
- Draw surprises: Kairat Almaty takes on giants like Real Madrid and Inter Milan.
- Pot 1 balance: Every team faces at least two heavyweight opponents.
- Impact on newcomers: Pafos and Qarabag aim to upset in tough matchups.
The variety of opponents ensures each round brings unique clashes, boosting global interest in the competition. The restriction on same-country matchups delays national rivalries until the knockout stages, promising high-stakes international battles.
Road to the Budapest final
The league phase runs from September 16, 2025, to January 28, 2026, with rounds spread over five months. Dates include an exclusive week with Thursday matches, maximizing media exposure. After the league phase, the round of 16 playoffs occur in February, followed by the round of 16 in March, quarterfinals in April, and semifinals in early May.
The tight schedule demands strategic planning from clubs balancing domestic and European competitions. The absence of same-country matchups in the league phase postpones national rivalries to the knockouts, where clashes like Manchester City vs. Liverpool or Real Madrid vs. Barcelona could happen. The single-game final in Budapest promises to be the season’s climax.
- Key rounds: September 16-18 (1st), September 30-October 1 (2nd), January 28 (8th).
- Round of 16 playoffs: February 17 and 24, 2026, with two-leg ties.
- Decisive stages: Round of 16 in March, quarterfinals in April, semifinals in May.
- Single-game final: May 30, 2026, in Budapest, with a 67,000-fan capacity.
Puskás Aréna, opened in 2019, is a modern venue that hosted Euro 2020 matches. Its selection underscores Hungary’s growing role in European football.
Record English club participation
For the first time, the Champions League features six English clubs: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Tottenham. The extra spot came from England’s strong UEFA coefficient ranking, with Tottenham earning their place via the Europa League win. These teams, all in the top-24 rankings, avoid domestic clashes in the league phase but face giants from other nations.
Liverpool, for example, take on Real Madrid and Inter Milan, while Arsenal face Bayern and Atlético Madrid. The Premier League’s financial and technical dominance raises expectations for an English team in the final, but internal competition is fierce.
- English clubs: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham.
- Strategic edge: Avoiding domestic matchups in the league phase.
- Challenges: Facing heavyweights like PSG, Bayern, and Real Madrid in key rounds.
- Expectation: At least one English club likely to reach the quarterfinals.
The heavy English presence reflects the Premier League’s dominance but puts pressure on clubs to perform in a longer, tougher competition.
Surprises and newcomers in the race
Clubs like Kairat Almaty from Kazakhstan and Pafos from Cyprus are the season’s big surprises. Both secured spots through qualifiers, with Kairat ousting Celtic and Pafos defeating Malmö in impressive fashion. These underdogs have a chance to shine against giants.
Qarabag from Azerbaijan also returns to the league phase, cementing its European presence. These clubs bring geographic diversity to the tournament, which includes teams from 53 UEFA associations, excluding Liechtenstein and Russia.
- Notable newcomers: Kairat Almaty, Pafos, and Qarabag face top-tier opponents.
- Historic feat: Kairat is Kazakhstan’s first club in the league phase.
- Challenges: Competing against big-budget squads with limited resources.
- Opportunity: Points against lower-pot teams could secure playoff spots.
The inclusion of smaller-market teams reflects UEFA’s push for a more inclusive Champions League, though big clubs still dominate.
Season expectations
The 2025/26 Champions League promises to be one of the most balanced in years, thanks to the new format and matchup distribution. PSG, fresh off their 2024/25 title, are favorites but face stiff competition from Bayern, Real Madrid, and Manchester City. The presence of legends like Kaká and Ibrahimovic at the draw underscores the tournament’s global appeal, expected to draw billions of viewers.
Early rounds in September and October will set the tone for teams. Liverpool and Chelsea, with revamped squads, aim to reclaim prominence, while underdogs like Pafos and Kairat seek historic upsets. The Budapest final, with its unique atmosphere, is already a focal point for fans.
- Title favorites: PSG, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Real Madrid.
- Teams to watch: Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham aim to surprise.
- Global reach: The Champions League draws billions across 200 countries.
- Upset potential: Smaller clubs could disrupt the giants’ plans.
The 2025/26 season cements the Champions League’s evolution, with more games, higher stakes, and a format that keeps the excitement alive until the final whistle.
