Champions League 2025/26 draw sets league phase matchups in Monaco

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase draw took place on Thursday, August 28, at 1:00 PM (Brasília time) at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. The highly anticipated event determined the eight opponents for each of the 36 participating teams, kicking off the second season of the new single-league format that replaced the traditional group stage. Featuring giants like Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Manchester City, alongside debutants such as Kairat from Kazakhstan and Pafos from Cyprus, the draw delivered thrilling matchups. Broadcast live on UEFA’s website and ge, the event used an automated system to ensure balanced and diverse fixtures. The competition, promising heightened competitiveness, will culminate in the final on May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Arena in Budapest.

The new Champions League format, introduced last season, eliminates traditional groups, placing all 36 teams in a single table. Each team faces eight different opponents, two from each of the four pots, playing four games at home and four away. The Monaco ceremony was marked by the efficiency of the digital draw, which instantly assigned matchups as each club was drawn. Teams from the same country cannot face each other in this phase, and each club can have a maximum of two opponents from the same nation, ensuring greater variety in the fixtures.

• Format innovations: The league phase replaces the old group stage, with more games and diverse opponents.
• Draw restrictions: Clubs from the same country do not face each other, with a limit of two rivals per nation.
• Key dates: The league phase runs from September 16 to January 28, 2026.
• Historic debutants: Kairat and Pafos mark the competition’s geographic expansion.

This year’s competition underscores the strength of Europe’s top leagues, with the Premier League sending six representatives, including Tottenham, which earned a spot by winning the Europa League. La Liga, with five clubs, also reinforces its presence.

Draw rules and pot composition

The 2025/26 Champions League league phase draw followed a structured process to ensure balance. The 36 teams were divided into four pots based on UEFA’s club coefficients, except for the reigning champion, Paris Saint-Germain, automatically placed in pot 1 as a top seed. Each team faces two clubs from each pot, with home and away assignments determined by UEFA’s software. The automated system, activated after manually selecting each team, instantly revealed their opponents.

• Pot 1: Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona.
• Pot 2: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atlético Madrid, Benfica, Club Brugge, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt.
• Pot 3: Tottenham, PSV Eindhoven, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Olympique Marseille, Bodø/Glimt.
• Pot 4: Monaco, Qarabag, Galatasaray, Union Saint-Gilloise, Pafos, Kairat, Athletic Bilbao, Newcastle, Copenhagen.

The draw adheres to specific restrictions: clubs from the same country, like England’s Manchester City and Liverpool, cannot face each other, and each team faces a maximum of two opponents from the same nation. This ensures diversity and avoids domestic clashes in the initial phase. The league phase, spanning September 2025 to January 2026, promises intense matches, with teams like Kairat from Kazakhstan facing European giants for the first time.

#UCLdraw pots for the league phase 👀 pic.twitter.com/mmMny3Qh4r

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 28, 2025

Innovations and impact of the new format

The adoption of the single-league format has brought significant changes to the Champions League. Unlike the previous model with four-team groups, the new system increases the number of matches to 189, compared to 125 in the old group stage, offering more opportunities for clashes between teams from different pots. The league phase, running from September 16 to January 28, features eight rounds, with all final-round games played simultaneously to heighten excitement.

The format also alters the knockout qualification. The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th compete in playoffs with home-and-away matches in February 2026. Clubs ranked 25th and below are eliminated without the option to drop to the Europa League, a change from previous editions.

• More matches: Each team plays eight games, compared to six in the old format.
• Direct qualification: The top eight advance straight to the round of 16, bypassing playoffs.
• Expanded playoffs: 16 teams compete for eight knockout spots.
• No fallback: Eliminated teams do not transfer to the Europa League.

The final, set for May 30, 2026, will take place at the Puskás Arena in Budapest, hosting the Champions League final for the first time. The stadium, which previously hosted the 2023 Europa League final, promises to be a vibrant stage for the competition’s climax.

Debutants and geographic expansion

The 2025/26 Champions League highlights the inclusion of clubs from less traditional football regions. Kairat from Kazakhstan and Pafos from Cyprus are the standout debutants, bringing the competition to new frontiers. Bodø/Glimt from Norway and Union Saint-Gilloise from Belgium also make their league phase debuts, reinforcing geographic diversity.

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Kairat, based in Almaty, marks a historic milestone as the easternmost club to participate in the league phase since the group stage format began. These clubs, though underdogs, have the potential to surprise, as seen in past editions with lesser-known teams.

• Kairat (Kazakhstan): First Kazakh club in the league phase, backed by strong local support.
• Pafos (Cyprus): Absolute debutant, representing the rise of Cypriot football.
• Bodø/Glimt (Norway): Known for its attacking approach, poised to surprise.
• Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium): Returns to the European stage with ambition.

The inclusion of these clubs reflects UEFA’s strategy to expand the competition, allowing smaller associations to have representatives in Europe’s elite. The qualification of teams like Qarabag from Azerbaijan and Copenhagen from Denmark further emphasizes this trend.

Road to the Budapest final

The league phase is just the start of a long journey to the Budapest final. After the eight rounds, teams ranked 9th to 24th will compete in playoffs on February 17, 18, 24, and 25, 2026. The winners join the top eight in the round of 16, scheduled for March 10, 11, 17, and 18. The quarterfinals take place on April 7, 8, 14, and 15, followed by the semifinals on April 28, 29, and May 5, 6.

The knockout rounds retain the traditional format, with home-and-away matches and qualification based on aggregate scores. In case of a tie, extra time and, if necessary, penalties decide the winner. The single-match final will be a landmark for Hungary, hosting the Champions League final for the first time.

• Playoffs: February 17 to 25, 2026, with home-and-away matches.
• Round of 16: March 10 to 18, 2026, with balanced duels.
• Quarterfinals and semifinals: April and May 2026, with decisive clashes.
• Single final: May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Arena, Budapest.

The competition also offers significant rewards. The champion secures a spot in the next season’s league phase, competes in the UEFA Super Cup against the Europa League winner, and participates in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.

Strength of European leagues

The 2025/26 edition reflects the dominance of Europe’s top leagues. The Premier League, with six clubs (Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Newcastle), leads in representation, boosted by its collective performance last season and Tottenham’s Europa League triumph. La Liga, with five teams (Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, and Athletic Bilbao), also stands out.

The Bundesliga, with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, and Eintracht Frankfurt, and Serie A, with Inter Milan, Juventus, Atalanta, and Napoli, complete the group of most represented leagues. Clubs like Benfica, Club Brugge, and PSV Eindhoven highlight the competitiveness of smaller leagues like Portugal’s, Belgium’s, and the Netherlands’.

• Premier League: Six clubs, led by Manchester City and Liverpool.
• La Liga: Five teams, with Real Madrid and Barcelona as frontrunners.
• Bundesliga and Serie A: Four clubs each, with Bayern and Inter as favorites.
• Smaller leagues: Benfica, PSV, and Club Brugge aim to upset.

The diversity of clubs and the new format promise a more unpredictable competition, with matchups between giants and newcomers that could redefine expectations for the season.