Date and Time:: The draw takes place on Thursday, August 28, at 12 p.m. ET/5 p.m. UK.
New Format:: Thirty-six teams will participate in a league phase, each playing eight matches against different opponents.
Draw Mechanics:: Teams are divided into four pots based on UEFA rankings, with restrictions preventing teams from the same country facing each other.
League Stage:: Matches will be played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from September to January.
Knockout Stage:: The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while teams finishing 9th-24th will compete in knockout round playoffs.
The 2025-26 Champions League season introduces a revamped format, moving from the traditional group stage to a single league phase. This involves 36 teams, each playing eight matches against different opponents. The draw, held in Monaco, divides teams into four pots based on their UEFA coefficient rankings. Teams are drawn to ensure no clubs from the same country face each other and a maximum of two opponents from any other single country.
The league stage spans from September to January, with matches held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The top eight teams automatically advance to the round of 16. Teams finishing 9th to 24th enter a knockout round playoff to determine the remaining eight teams for the last 16. The bracket is then drawn, with the top eight finishers seeded.
Matchday Schedule:
Matchday 1: Sept. 16-18
Matchday 2: Sept. 30-Oct. 1
Matchday 3: Oct. 21-22
Matchday 4: Nov. 4-5
Matchday 5: Nov. 25-26
Matchday 6: Dec. 9-10
Matchday 7: Jan. 20-21, 2026
Matchday 8: Jan. 28, 2026
Knockout Stage Dates:
Knockout Round Playoffs: Feb. 17-18 & Feb. 24-25
Round of 16: March 10-11 & March 17-18
Quarterfinals: April 7-8 & April 14-15
Semifinals: April 28-29 & May 5-6
Final: May 30 at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary
Q: When is the Champions League draw for the 2025-26 season?
The draw is scheduled for Thursday, August 28, at 12 p.m. ET.
Q: How many teams are participating in the league phase?
Thirty-six teams will participate in the league phase.
Q: What is the new format for the Champions League?
The format has changed to a league phase where each team plays eight matches against different opponents, replacing the traditional group stage.
Q: How do teams advance to the knockout stage?
The top eight teams from the league phase advance directly to the round of 16, while teams finishing 9th-24th enter a knockout round playoff.
The Champions League is adopting a new format, increasing the number of participating teams to 36 and introducing a league phase.
The draw on August 28 will determine the matchups for the league phase.
Key dates for matches are set from September 2025 to May 2026, culminating in the final in Budapest.
What are your predictions for the Champions League 2025-26 season? Which teams do you think will make it to the final?
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