The road to Budapest begins now. The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League is set to deliver its first major moment: the league phase draw in Monaco.
When Is the Champions League Draw?
- Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025
- Time: 16:00 CET (12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT)
- Venue: Grimaldi Forum, Monaco
- Where to Watch (US): CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, CBS Golazo
Champions League Format (2025/26)
The competition has a revamped structure:
- 36 teams instead of 32
- Teams drawn into 4 pots of nine, seeded by UEFA coefficients
- Each club plays 8 matches (4 home, 4 away) against different opponents
- Ranking table replaces group stage
Qualification system:
- Top 8 → Direct to Round of 16
- 9th–24th → Playoff round (two-legged) for remaining knockout spots
- 25th–36th → Eliminated (no Europa League drop-down)
Teams Qualified So Far (29 of 36 Confirmed)
Here are the clubs already booked for the league phase:
| Country | Clubs |
|---|---|
| England (6) | Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham |
| Spain (5) | Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Club, Villarreal |
| Germany (4) | Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund |
| Italy (4) | Napoli, Inter Milan, Atalanta, Juventus |
| France (3) | PSG, Marseille, Monaco |
| Netherlands (2) | Ajax, PSV Eindhoven |
| Portugal (1) | Sporting CP |
| Belgium (1) | Union Saint-Gilloise |
| Turkey (1) | Galatasaray |
| Czech Republic (1) | Slavia Prague |
| Greece (1) | Olympiacos |
7 spots remain, to be decided in the play-offs (Aug 26–27, 2025).
Key Dates for the 2025/26 Season
- League Phase: Starts September 2025
- Knockout Phase: Early 2026
- Final: May 30, 2026 – Puskás Aréna, Budapest
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Why This Draw Matters
This is the first full season under the new Swiss-style format, which means:
- More big clashes earlier in the tournament
- No traditional “groups of death” — but plenty of heavyweight matchups
- Extra drama as mid-table finishes battle for playoff survival
