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Champions League Playoff Draw and Full Match Schedule for 2026/27 Qualifying

The qualification process for the upcoming UEFA Champions League season has reached its decisive playoff round. Fourteen teams will compete to secure a spot in the 2026/27 league phase. The last few participants will be decided by the third qualifying round.

These playoffs are two-legged ties scheduled for August, ahead of the league phase draw on August 27.

Overview of the Champions League Playoff Draw

The draw took place on August 3 at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. Fourteen teams entered this stage: ten via the champions path and four through the league path. The champions path includes domestic league winners who began qualifying earlier, while the league path is for clubs qualifying through their domestic league position in countries with multiple Champions League spots.

Out of the fourteen playoff teams, ten are still to be decided through matches in the third qualifying round held during the weeks of August 3 and August 10.

2026/27 Champions League Playoff Fixtures

  • 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)

Playoff Match Schedule

  • First legs: August 18 and 19
  • Second legs: August 25 and 26

The playoff second legs conclude just before the league phase draw, which takes place on August 27. Kickoff times and dates will be updated as UEFA confirms them.

Europa League Entry for Eliminated Teams

Teams knocked out at this playoff stage will move directly into the Europa League group stage. This is the last chance for clubs to drop into the Europa League from Champions League qualifying. After the league phase starts, no further relegation to the Europa League will occur from the Champions League.

League Phase Draw Details

The draw for the 2026/27 Champions League league phase is scheduled for August 27 in Monaco. It usually begins at noon Central European Time (6 a.m. Eastern Time).

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