UEFA has announced that the draw for the 2026–27 Champions League league phase will take place on Thursday, August 27, at its headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The event is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. BST (12 p.m. ET) and will be available for live streaming on UEFA’s official website and YouTube channel.

Qualified Teams and Representation

As of now, 30 of the 36 clubs have secured their spots in the league phase based on their performances in the 2025–26 season, with the final six places to be filled through qualifying playoffs in August. England leads the way with six clubs from the Premier League entering the league phase directly, followed by Spain with five teams. Germany, Italy, and France will each contribute four clubs to the competition.

Among the notable returnees are Manchester United, Aston Villa, Roma, Real Betis, Lille, and Shakhtar Donetsk, all of whom are making a comeback after missing previous editions. Additionally, Italian club Como will be participating in the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Competition Format and Schedule

The 2026–27 Champions League will continue with the revamped league phase format introduced last season. Each of the 36 clubs will play eight matches against eight different opponents drawn from four seeding pots, with four matches at home and four away. At the conclusion of the league phase, the top eight teams will advance directly to the round of 16. Teams finishing between ninth and 24th will enter a two-legged knockout playoff for the remaining last-16 spots, while those outside the top 24 will be eliminated.

The league phase is set to begin earlier than in the previous season, with Matchday One scheduled for September 8 to 10, 2026, and concluding on January 27, 2027. The final of the 2026–27 Champions League will be held on June 5, 2027, at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, marking the venue's second final after hosting the 2019 match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.