The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League is about to kick off with the eagerly awaited draw for the group stage, a crucial event that will determine the schedule for the 36 participating teams. The ceremony will be held this Thursday, August 28, in Monaco, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (10:00 a.m. in Mexico, 11:00 a.m. in Peru, and 6:00 p.m. in Spain). This will be the second edition of the new format, which expanded the number of clubs and established a single phase with eight games for each, promising greater excitement and competition.
Fans will be able to follow the draw live on Disney+, the same platform that will broadcast all the tournament’s matches. This year, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will defend its title against an elite group that includes European giants such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich. There is enormous anticipation to see how these teams will fare in the new format.
As in the previous edition, the 36 qualified clubs will be distributed into four pots. During the draw, a physical ball will select the team, and specialized software will determine the eight opponents it will face in this phase. This system ensures randomness and allows for unexpected matchups that will test the best clubs in Europe from the start of the competition.
2025-26 UEFA Champions League draw schedule in the UK, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain. Find out the start time in each European time zone. | Photo by uefa.com / Depor
How does the new Champions League draw format work?
The Champions League draw is now based on a single league phase. The 36 teams are divided into four pots, according to their individual coefficient. The reigning Champions League winner will be seeded in Pot 1. Each club will face eight different opponents: two from each pot, playing one game at home and one away. In addition, restriction rules apply to prevent teams from the same federation from facing each other in this initial phase.
How does the new knockout format work?
To advance to the next phase, teams have two options: those finishing in the top eight of the league phase will qualify directly for the round of 16. On the other hand, teams finishing between 9th and 24th place will have to play a two-legged playoff to qualify for the round of 16. Unlike in previous editions, teams finishing below 24th place will not be able to continue in any European competition.
Real Madrid (15) is the team with the most wins in the Champions League's history. | Photo: Getty Images
Which teams are in the pots for the 2025/26 Champions League draw?
The pots for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League draw have been confirmed. With 29 of 36 teams confirmed, Pot 1 includes giants such as PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern, Liverpool, Inter, Chelsea, Dortmund, and Barcelona. Pot 2 includes Arsenal, Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, and Eintracht. Pot 3 consists of Tottenham, PSV, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, and Marseille. Finally, Pot 4 includes Monaco, Ferencvaros, Galatasaray, Union SG, Athletic, and Newcastle.
What is the schedule for the 2025/26 Champions League?
The Champions League group stage will be played from September 2025 to January 2026. The key dates on the calendar are:
- Matchday 1: September 16–18, 2025
- Matchday 2: September 30–October 1
- Matchday 3: October 21/22
- Matchday 4: November 4/5
- Matchday 5: November 25/26
- Matchday 6: December 9/10
- Matchday 7: January 20/21, 2026
- Matchday 8: January 28, 2026
