The draw for the 2026/27 Champions League qualifiers has been conducted, revealing seven crucial play-off pairings. The ceremony took place on August 3 in Nyon, Switzerland, setting the stage for the upcoming matches that will determine which teams advance to the league phase.

Kairat's Challenge Against Levski

Kazakhstan's Kairat faces a tough task as they prepare to take on Bulgaria's Levski in the third qualifying round. The first leg of this matchup is scheduled for August 4 in Sofia, with the return leg taking place on August 11 in Almaty. The winner of this contest will then meet Greek club AEK in the play-offs, making it a critical hurdle for Kairat to overcome.

Sabah Aims for Progress

Azerbaijan's Sabah will also be looking to make their mark as they compete against Denmark's Aarhus in the third qualifying round. The victor of this pairing will advance to face the winner of the match between Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Red Star Belgrade in the play-offs. Sabah must first secure a win against Aarhus to keep their Champions League ambitions alive.

Celtic Prepared for LASK

In a more straightforward scenario, Scottish club Celtic will directly face Austrian side LASK in the play-offs, having bypassed the third qualifying round. This matchup is particularly significant for Celtic, who were eliminated at this stage by Kairat last season. They will be eager to avoid a repeat of that disappointment as they prepare for the clash.

In total, five play-off pairings have been established for the Champions Path, with several teams vying for a place in the league phase. Additionally, a separate League Path has been created for clubs that qualified through high league finishes rather than domestic championships. This path includes notable teams such as Fenerbahçe and Lyon, who will need to overcome their respective third-round opponents to advance.