The draw for the 2026-27 Champions League league phase is set to take place this week, with five Premier League clubs eager to learn their opponents. Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Aston Villa will participate in the draw, while Chelsea will not be competing in European football this season.

Details of the Draw

The Champions League league-phase draw is scheduled for Thursday, August 27, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, commencing at 5pm UK time. However, fans should note that the actual drawing of teams will take some time after the ceremony begins, as UEFA officials will introduce legends, explain the draw process, and preview the competition.

Understanding the Draw Process

In the draw, each club will face two opponents from each of the four pots, including their own, with one home and one away match against every pot. All eight opponents must be unique, and the draw software enforces country protection rules. This means that clubs from the same association cannot be drawn against each other, and no club can face more than two teams from any other single association. For instance, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal will not meet in the league phase.

After the league phase concludes, the top eight teams will advance directly to the round of 16. Clubs finishing in ninth to 24th place will enter a two-legged playoff round for the remaining spots in the last 16, while the bottom 12 teams will be eliminated from the competition.

Viewing Options for the Draw

UK viewers can catch the 2026-27 Champions League league-phase draw live on TNT Sports and HBO Max. Additionally, it will be available on the UEFA website, Uefa.tv, the UEFA app, and the governing body's YouTube channel.

As the draw approaches, anticipation builds among fans and clubs alike, particularly for Paris Saint-Germain, who enter the draw as the reigning champions after their victory over Arsenal in the Budapest final last May.