🚨 The league phase draw for the UEFA Champions League will take place next week, on Thursday 28 August at 18:00 CET. 🏆👀 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 🍿

• The league phase draw for the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League will be held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. It kicks off precisely at 18:00 CET on Thursday, 28 August  .

• This marks the second consecutive season with UEFA’s revamped format, which replaces the traditional group stage with a broader single-league system featuring 36 teams  .

Format & Procedure of the Draw

The draw follows a structured hybrid procedure—physical and digital:

1. Seeding Pots

The 36 teams are divided into four pots of nine, based on UEFA club coefficients, with the defending champions in Pot 1 as the top seed  .

2. Drawing Method

• A physical ball is drawn manually—typically starting with Pot 1.

• After that, an automated digital system instantly assigns eight opponents to each drawn team:

• Two from each pot, ensuring one home and one away match per pair.

• Country protection is enforced: no teams from the same association face each other, and no team plays more than two opponents from the same nation  .

3. Repeat for All Pots

This process continues until all teams have their eight league-phase opponents.

4. Fixture Release

UEFA will publish the full fixture list, including match dates and kickoff times, by Saturday, 30 August  .

What Comes Next?

Following the draw:

• The League Phase begins mid-September, running through late January 2026:

• Matchday 1: 16–18 September

• Matchday 8 (final): 28 January 2026  .

The progression format:

• Top 8 finishers: advance directly to the Round of 16.

• Teams ranked 9th–24th: enter the knockout playoff round to vie for Round of 16 spots.

• Teams ranked 25th–36th: are eliminated—with no Europa League fallback  .

Why This Draw Matters

1. Exciting Diversity

With teams drawn from different pots, matches could feature unexpected, thrilling matchups—champions vs. emerging challengers, potentially creating blockbuster fixtures from the get-go.

2. Strategic Match Planning

The home-away distribution (one at home and one away vs. each pot) is balanced. This system ensures strategic variety but heightens the importance of each fixture.

3. Penalty for Underperformance

Teams finishing 9th–24th must endure extra knockout ties—adding pressure—and playing away second-leg opponents can be decisive.

4. Impact on Youth Tournaments

The UEFA Youth League mirrors senior matchups for its Champions League path—meaning the draw also dictates youth fixtures, at least for the first six matchdays  .

5. Rule Changes to Monitor

• Starting 2026/27, UEFA will prohibit teams from facing opponents in the league phase that they already played in the previous two seasons—keeping matchups fresh  .

• A proposed change for 2025/26: the top-eight teams might get the advantage of playing the second leg at home in knockout rounds (pending UEFA Executive Committee approval in September), a shift prompted by fairness concerns after recent upset exits  .

Broader Tournament Context

• The 2025–26 season marks the 71st edition of Europe’s premier club competition, with the current format offering expanded access and competitive diversity  .

• The final is scheduled for 30 May 2026 at Puskás Aréna in Budapest  .

The revised schedule reflects UEFA’s push towards:

• Greater inclusivity—more clubs and associations represented.

• Enhanced competition—more diverse and high-stakes games.

• Operational efficiency—blended digital and analog draw systems reduce manual bottlenecks  .

Summary Table

Topic	Details
When & Where	28 August 2025, 18:00 CET at Grimaldi Forum, Monaco
Format	36 teams; single-league; 8 matches each
Draw Process	Manual ball for team; software assigns 8 opponents with home/away balance; country protection
Fixture Release	By 30 August
League Phase Dates	Mid-Sept to Late-Jan
Advancement	Top 8 → Round of 16; 9–24 → Playoffs; 25–36 eliminated
Youth Impact	Youth League follows same fixtures for 6 matchdays
Upcoming Changes	Potential home second-leg for top-eight teams; new restriction on repeat opponents (from 2026/27)
Final Venue	Budapest, 30 May 2026

Final Thoughts

The 28 August draw isn’t just a formality—it’s the launchpad for what promises to be a thrilling, unpredictable Champions League season. With UEFA’s bold format changes and innovations, matchups will earn new meaning:

• Teams must perform consistently from day one.

• Every match counts, as only the top eight get directional advantages in the knockout phase.

• Storylines—from club debuts to tactical match-ups—will emerge instantly.

For fans, clubs, and analysts alike, this draw marks the start of a journey through re-energized European competition—one where every draw ball lands with the potential for drama.