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2026/27 UEFA Champions League Playoff Draw and Full Match Schedule

The qualification stage for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League has reached its decisive playoff round. Fourteen teams will compete for spots in the league phase of the tournament, with many still to be confirmed after the third qualifying round.

These playoffs consist of two-legged ties played in August, ahead of the league phase draw scheduled for August 27. Below is the complete schedule for the upcoming playoff matches as announced on August 3.

Details of the 2026/27 Champions League Playoffs Draw

The playoff draw took place on August 3 at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. Fourteen clubs qualified for this phase: ten via the champions path and four through the league path. The champions path includes teams entering after winning their domestic leagues, while the league path involves clubs that secured Champions League qualification based on their domestic league positions from countries with multiple entries.

Out of these fourteen playoff participants, ten are yet to be decided through the third qualifying round, which runs during the weeks starting August 3 and August 10.

Matchups in the Champions League Playoff Round

  • Levski Sofia (BUL) or Kairat Almaty (KAZ) vs. AEK Athens (GRE)
  • Celtic (SCO) vs. LASK (AUT)
  • GNK Dinamo (CRO) or Zalgiris (LIT) vs. Viking (NOR)
  • Mjallby (SWE) or Slovan Bratislava (SVK) vs. Ararat-Armenia (ARM) or Celje (SVN)
  • Hapoel Be'er-Sheva (ISR) or Red Star Belgrade (SRB) vs. Aarhus (DEN) or Sabah (AZE)
  • Fenerbahce (TUR) or Sturm Graz (AUT) vs. Sparta Prague (CZE) or Lyon (FRA)
  • Olympiacos (GRE) or NEC (NED) vs. Union SG (BEL) or Bodo/Glimt (NOR)

Champions League Playoff Match Schedule

  • First legs: August 18 and 19
  • Second legs: August 25 and 26
  • League phase draw: August 27 in Monaco at 12 p.m. CET (6 a.m. ET)

The exact kickoff times for each match will be updated when UEFA confirms them.

Europa League Qualification Possibility

Teams eliminated in this playoff round will automatically enter the Europa League league phase. This is the final chance for clubs to move into the Europa League before the Champions League group stage starts. After the league phase begins, no further Champions League eliminations will result in entry to the Europa League.

Summary of Key Dates

  • Third qualifying round matches: Weeks beginning August 3 and August 10
  • Playoff first leg: August 18-19
  • Playoff second leg: August 25-26
  • League phase draw: August 27

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