The UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league phase draw, held on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 1:00 PM (Brasília time) in Monaco, will determine the matchups set to thrill Europe’s top club competition. Taking place at the Grimaldi Forum, the event will be broadcast live on TNT (pay TV), HBO Max (streaming), SBT (free-to-air TV), and UEFA.tv (free streaming). With a new single-league format replacing the traditional group stage, the competition features 36 teams, including giants like Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Manchester City, alongside debutants such as Kairat from Kazakhstan and Pafos from Cyprus. The draw, using a hybrid system of manual balls and automated software, will assign eight opponents per team, with matches starting on September 16. The ceremony marks the start of a season culminating in the final on May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Arena in Budapest.
The 2025/26 Champions League, now with 36 teams, adopts the “Swiss system” format, where each club faces eight different opponents, four at home and four away. The draw is structured into four pots based on UEFA coefficients, with PSG, the reigning champion, headlining pot 1. Live broadcasts will be available across multiple platforms, ensuring wide access for fans.
- Draw time: 1:00 PM (Brasília time), Thursday, August 28.
- Live broadcast: TNT, HBO Max, SBT, and UEFA.tv.
- Event location: Grimaldi Forum, Monaco, France.
- Competition format: Single league with 36 teams, eight games per team.
How to watch the draw live
The league phase draw will be broadcast in real-time with options for various audiences. On pay TV, TNT offers the event with detailed coverage, including expert commentary. For streaming fans, HBO Max provides full coverage, while UEFA.tv, the official UEFA platform, streams it for free with English narration. In Brazil, SBT ensures access on free-to-air TV, catering to those without cable or streaming subscriptions.
Starting at 1:00 PM (Brasília time), the ceremony will last about an hour, thanks to the hybrid system that streamlines matchup assignments. Fans can follow reactions and live analysis on sports channels and UEFA’s official social media. The broadcast will also feature the unveiling of the competition’s new balls and individual awards, such as the player of the season.
- TNT: Pay TV channel with Portuguese narration and analysis.
- HBO Max: Streaming with HD quality and on-demand access.
- SBT: Free-to-air broadcast available across Brazil.
- UEFA.tv: Free platform with global event coverage.
#UCLdraw pots for the league phase 👀 pic.twitter.com/mmMny3Qh4r
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 28, 2025
Draw pots: giants and newcomers
The 36 participating clubs are divided into four pots based on UEFA rankings, except for PSG, the champion, who automatically leads pot 1. The setup reflects the strength of Europe’s top leagues, with England represented by six clubs, followed by Spain with five. Debutant teams like Kairat and Pafos feature in pot 4, adding geographic diversity to the competition.
Pot 1 includes top favorites like Real Madrid, with 15 titles, and Manchester City, a current English powerhouse. Pot 2 features competitive sides like Arsenal and Juventus, while pot 3 includes Tottenham and Napoli. Pot 4 highlights newcomers and traditional clubs, such as Newcastle and Athletic Bilbao. Each team will face two opponents from each pot, ensuring a balance between matches against giants and less-favored sides.
- 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.
New hybrid draw system
The 2025/26 Champions League draw employs a hybrid system, combining manual balls with automated software developed by AE Live. The process starts with manually drawing a ball from each pot, and the computer assigns eight opponents per team in seconds, adhering to the competition’s rules. Clubs from the same country cannot face each other, and no team can have more than two opponents from the same nation, ensuring diverse matchups.
The technology, audited by Ernst & Young, cuts down the draw time, which would be unfeasible manually due to 1,296 possible combinations. The system also ensures fairness, with the chance of unbalanced matchups reduced to less than 0.0001%. The full match schedule will be released by August 30, detailing game dates.
- Hybrid draw: Manual balls paired with software for efficiency.
- Restrictions: No matchups between same-country teams or more than two rivals per nation.
- Audit: Ernst & Young ensures transparency and randomness.
- Schedule: Match dates to be announced by August 30.
League phase format
The league phase, running from September 16, 2025, to January 29, 2026, replaces the old group stage, featuring 144 matches. Each team plays eight games, with four home matches, facing opponents from all pots. The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while those from 9th to 24th compete in February 2026 playoffs. Teams from 25th to 36th are eliminated, with no Europa League fallback.
The format keeps the intensity high until the final round, as each match impacts the standings. UEFA has also removed the away goals rule in the knockout stages, with ties resolved by extra time and, if needed, penalties. The final, a single match, is set for the Puskás Arena in Budapest.
- League phase: September 16, 2025, to January 29, 2026, with 144 matches.
- Qualification: Top eight to the round of 16; 9th to 24th in playoffs.
- Elimination: 25th to 36th out, with no Europa League repêchage.
- Knockout stage: No away goals; ties go to extra time or penalties.
Event highlights and trivia
The 2025/26 Champions League draw is more than just matchup assignments; it celebrates the diversity of European football. Clubs like Kairat, which knocked out Celtic in the playoffs, and Pafos from Cyprus highlight the competition’s geographic expansion. England leads with a record six clubs, driven by the Premier League’s strong UEFA coefficient. UEFA will also announce awards, such as the player of the year, during the event, boosting fan engagement.
The multi-platform broadcast reflects UEFA’s push for global reach, with UEFA.tv offering free access. The draw sets the stage for the road to Budapest, with clubs vying for the iconic “big ears” trophy.
- Debutants: Kairat, Pafos, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Bodø/Glimt in the league phase.
- English record: Six Premier League clubs, the highest representation.
- Awards: Player of the season to be announced during the draw.
- Global reach: UEFA.tv provides free streaming for fans worldwide.
