Champions League 2026/27: Format and Draw Details
The league phase draw for the 2026/27 Champions League is scheduled for Thursday in Monaco. While 32 of the 36 participating clubs have already secured their places, the final four slots will be determined following the conclusion of the qualifying rounds.
The competition will maintain its established league phase format. Each club is set to face two opponents from each of the four pots, playing one home and one away match against each designated rival. The pots themselves are determined by UEFA’s club coefficient rankings, which track performance across European competitions over recent seasons.
- Pot 1: Includes Premier League champions Arsenal, alongside Liverpool and Manchester City.
- Pot 2: Features Manchester United and Aston Villa, both marking their return to Europe’s premier tournament.
- Qualification Status: The final pot composition remains subject to the results of the remaining second-leg qualifying fixtures.
The tournament structure dictates that the top eight teams in the league phase will advance directly to the round of 16. Clubs finishing between ninth and 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout play-off, with the winners of those ties joining the top eight in the next round. Teams finishing 25th or lower will be eliminated from European competition entirely.
Europa League and Europa Conference League Draws
The 2026/27 Europa League draw will take place on Friday at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, starting at 12:00 pm (GMT). English representatives Bournemouth, Sunderland, and Crystal Palace are currently placed in Pot 3, though final pot assignments depend on the conclusion of ongoing qualifying matches.
- Format: Similar to the Champions League, each club will face two opponents from each pot, with one home and one away fixture per opponent.
- Restrictions: Bournemouth, Palace, and Sunderland are protected from facing one another until the knockout stages.
Following the Europa League proceedings, the Europa Conference League draw will commence. Brighton & Hove Albion, currently competing in the qualifying rounds, will be looking to build on their recent 4-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa following a goalless draw in the first leg of their qualifying tie against Tromsø.
Upcoming Fixtures and Match Schedule
As European competition preparations continue, several notable matches are scheduled across various leagues and tournaments The report also notes that the Champions League will also follow its usual league phase format for a third season running. The report also notes that setting up the route towards the quarter-finals, the winners of those play-offs will then face one of the top-eight teams in the round of 16. The report also notes that winner of Slovan Bratislava vs Celje. The report also notes that winner of Levski Sofia vs AEK Athens. The report also notes that although the final make-up of the pots will not be confirmed until the qualifying-round matches are completed, the trio have been placed in Pot 3. The report also notes that that means Premier League supporters will have to wait until those ties conclude before learning the full list of clubs involved and the final pot positions. The report also notes that however, they will look to ride the wave of their 4-0 Premier League opening victory over Aston Villa when they welcome the Norwegians to the Amex Stadium for the second leg. The report also notes that winners and Losers: Maresca leaves Man Utd, De Zerbi, Villa and Isak to join Arteta Football365.
- Monaco vs Górnik: 22:15
- SC Freiburg vs Motherwell: 22:15
- RB Salzburg vs Mjällby: 22:30
- Hradec Králové vs Panathinaikos: 22:30
- Riga FC vs KÍ: 22:30
- Inter Club d’Escaldes vs Drita: 22:30
- Thun vs Lech: 23:30
- FC St. Gallen vs Nordsjælland: 23:30
- Hapoel TA vs Atalanta: 23:30
- Borac BB vs Víkingur Reykjavík: 00:00
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs Tromsø: 00:00
- Austria Vienna vs Braga: 00:00
- Internacional vs Grêmio: 04:30
- Kolos Kovalivka vs Obolon Kyiv: Tomorrow, 18:00
- St. Pölten vs Austria Salzburg: Tomorrow, 22:00
- First Vienna vs SKU Amstetten: Tomorrow, 22:00
- Kapfenberger SV vs BW Linz: Tomorrow, 22:00
