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Champions League 2026-27: Draw Dates and Format Explained

The draw for the Champions League league phase is set for 17:00 BST on Thursday, 27 August in Monaco. This event will determine the fixtures for the 36 teams qualified this season.

How Does the Draw Work?

The 36 clubs are divided into four pots according to their UEFA club coefficient rankings. Starting with pot one, each team is drawn individually. Then, eight opponents are assigned by UEFA's automated software.

Teams in pot one include notable clubs like Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid.

Each team will play eight matches total, facing two teams from each of the other pots—one at home and one away.

  • English teams cannot face each other during the league phase.
  • Teams won’t play against clubs from their own country in the group stage fixtures.
  • No team will have more than two matches against clubs from another single country.

This process repeats until all 36 teams' fixtures are set.

Europa League Draw Details

The Europa League draw happens the day after the Champions League draw, kicking off at 12:00 BST on Friday, 28 August. Like the Champions League, 36 teams are split into four pots, and each gets eight fixtures determined by similar criteria.

The Europa League and Conference League draws are combined in one ceremony. UEFA will use a fully digital format for these draws, skipping physical balls to make the process smooth and fast.

Conference League Draw Overview

The Conference League draw follows immediately after the Europa League draw within the same event. Unlike the others, its league phase has six rounds instead of eight.

Here, 36 clubs are arranged into six pots of six teams each. Each club faces one team from every pot, completing their fixtures.

More Answers from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything Team

  • Who qualified for the Champions League league phase?
  • When does the summer transfer window close?
  • What changed in FPL for the 2026-27 season?
  • How do add-ons work in football transfers?

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