The draw that will set the fixtures for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase is slated for Thursday afternoon in Monaco, kicking off at 5:00 p.m. UK time.
This article walks you through everything you need to know before the draw takes place, from the number of clubs involved to the mechanics of the pairing process, the seeding system, and what the schedule looks like once the matches are confirmed. ### How many clubs enter the league phase? A total of thirty‑six clubs will be competing in the league phase. Twenty‑nine of those have already secured their places by virtue of their performances in the previous season’s domestic competitions and European tournaments.
The remaining seven spots will be filled by clubs that progress through the qualifying rounds, which are still to be decided at the time of the draw. ### The format in its third season The competition is now in the third year of its revamped structure, which was introduced to give clubs more high‑profile games and to increase the commercial appeal of the tournament. Under this format each team is matched against eight different opponents – two clubs from each of the four seeding pots (Pots 1, 2, 3 and 4).
Four of those eight matches are played at the team’s home stadium, while the other four are away. ### How the draw works Unlike the traditional manual draw that used to be televised, the current process is carried out by a sophisticated computer algorithm. Once the officials press a button, the system automatically pairs each club with its eight opponents, ensuring that all the competition’s constraints are respected. These constraints include avoiding repeat fixtures from the previous two seasons, preventing clubs from the same national association from meeting in the league phase (with a few exceptions for the English clubs), and respecting the home‑away balance.
### Seeding and the pots The composition of the four pots is determined by UEFA’s club coefficient rankings. These rankings are calculated on the basis of each club’s results in European competitions over the five‑year period that ends with the 2025/26 season. The highest‑ranked clubs – the reigning champions Paris Saint‑Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Arsenal, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid – occupy Pot 1. Pot 2 contains Manchester United, the Europa League winners Aston Villa, and other clubs that fall just below the top‑ten in the coefficient table.
Pots 3 and 4 are filled with the remaining qualified teams, based on their coefficient points. ### Notable restrictions for specific clubs UEFA has introduced a rule that prevents a team from playing the same league‑phase opponent for three consecutive seasons. This rule directly affects Liverpool, which met Real Madrid at Anfield in the last two campaigns (winning 2‑0 in November 2024 and 1‑0 a year later). Consequently, Liverpool cannot be drawn against Real Madrid at home this season, although an away fixture remains permissible.
Another restriction applies to English clubs: Liverpool cannot be paired with any other English side during the league phase. Since Arsenal and Manchester City are also in Pot 1, Liverpool is guaranteed to face at least one of the other top clubs – Paris Saint‑Germain, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid – at Anfield. Arsenal faces a similar situation. The Gunners have played Inter Milan away at the San Siro in the two previous league phases (a 1‑0 defeat in November 2024 followed by a 3‑1 victory in January 2025).
Therefore, Arsenal will certainly be drawn against one of the other Pot 1 clubs – Paris Saint‑Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid – on foreign soil, while an away match against Inter remains possible. ### Path to the knockout stages After the eight‑match league phase, the top eight clubs in the league‑phase table automatically qualify for the round of 16.
Clubs that finish 25th or lower are eliminated from European competition altogether and do not drop into the Europa League. The teams placed from ninth to 24th enter a two‑legged knockout‑phase play‑off. Within this bracket, the clubs finishing ninth to 16th are seeded and will face an unseeded opponent (positions 17‑24) with the second leg played at home. The eight winners of these play‑offs join the eight pre‑qualified clubs in the round of 16, and the competition proceeds through the quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and the final.
### Match calendar The league‑phase matchdays are scheduled as follows: - Matchday 1: 8‑10 September - Matchday 2: 13‑14 October - Matchday 3: 20‑21 October - Matchday 4: 3‑4 November - Matchday 5: 24‑25 November - Matchday 6: 8‑9 December - Matchday 7: 19‑20 January - Matchday 8: 27 January The dates for the two‑legged knockout‑phase play‑offs have yet to be announced. The subsequent stages are set for: - Play‑offs: 16‑17 February and 23‑24 February - Round of 16: 9‑10 March and 16‑17 March - Quarter‑finals: 6‑7 April and 13‑14 April - Semi‑finals: 27‑28 April and 4‑5 May - Final: 5 June 2027 The final will be staged at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain, concluding a season that promises a blend of historic rivalries and fresh match‑ups. ### Extra engagement Fans can also participate in the “Super 6” competition for a chance to win a £1 million prize, with entry available free of charge. In summary, the Thursday draw in Monaco will determine a complex web of fixtures that respect a series of UEFA‑imposed constraints while delivering an exciting slate of eight matches for each of the thirty‑six clubs.
Whether you are a supporter of a heavyweight like Real Madrid or a club making its return to Europe such as Aston Villa, the draw will set the stage for a season of high‑stakes football across the continent.