Champions League 2025–26 Draw: Date, Time, Format, and Everything You Need to Know

The road to Europe’s biggest football prize begins with the draw. The UEFA Champions League 2025–26 season is set to usher in only the second edition of its revamped “league phase” format, which replaced the traditional group stage. The draw will determine how the continent’s top clubs begin their journey toward Budapest, where the final will be played in May 2026.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Champions League draw for 2025–26.

When Is the Champions League 2025–26 Draw?

• Date: Thursday, 28 August 2025

• Time:

  • 5:00 p.m. BST (UK)

  • 12:00 p.m. ET (US)

  • 6:00 p.m. CEST (Europe)

• Location: Grimaldi Forum, Monaco

The draw ceremony is one of UEFA’s most glamorous annual events, featuring club representatives, football legends, and the unveiling of the fixtures that set the stage for the season ahead.

How to Watch the Draw

Fans will be able to watch the draw live through several platforms:

• UEFA.com and the official UEFA app (free streaming)

• TNT Sports and Discovery+ (UK coverage)

• Amazon Prime Video (select regions)

• Global broadcasters, depending on local rights agreements

What Is the New Champions League Format?

The 2025–26 season continues with UEFA’s new league-phase structure, first introduced in 2024–25:

• 36 clubs instead of the old 32.

• Each team plays 8 matches (four home, four away).

• Opponents are drawn from four seeded pots, ensuring variety.

• Teams from the same nation cannot meet during the league phase.

• The top 8 clubs in the standings automatically advance to the Round of 16.

• Clubs finishing 9th–24th enter a two-legged playoff to secure a place in the knockouts.

• Those ranked 25th–36th are eliminated from European competition.

This format guarantees more high-profile clashes early in the tournament and gives fans more matches to enjoy.

Key Dates for the 2025–26 Season

• Matchday 1: September 16–18, 2025

• Matchday 8 (final league fixtures): January 27–28, 2026

• Knockout Playoff Draw: February 27, 2026

• Knockout Phase: March–May 2026

• Final: May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary

Why the Draw Matters

The Champions League draw doesn’t just decide fixtures—it shapes the narrative of the entire season. For fans, it’s the moment where dream matchups become reality. For clubs, it’s the first glimpse of how difficult their road to the final will be.

With the expanded format, traditional “groups of death” are gone, but blockbuster fixtures are guaranteed. Imagine Barcelona facing Bayern, or Real Madrid taking on Manchester City, right in the early league phase.

Clubs to Watch

While the full list of qualified teams will be confirmed closer to the date, the European elite will again be present:

• Premier League giants like Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool.

• Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid.

• Serie A contenders such as Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Juventus.

• Bundesliga forces Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

• French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Alongside them, surprise qualifiers and debutants from smaller leagues will be eager to make their mark on the biggest stage.

Looking Ahead

The Champions League remains the pinnacle of club football, and the 2025–26 season promises another year of drama, iconic moments, and unforgettable nights under the lights.

From the glitz of the Monaco draw to the roar of the Budapest final, fans worldwide will be glued to every twist and turn.

Conclusion

The Champions League 2025–26 draw is set for August 28, 2025, in Monaco, and will be streamed globally. It marks the beginning of another season of thrilling football, with 36 clubs vying for glory in the revamped league phase.

Mark your calendars—this is where Europe’s greatest competition begins its journey.

Call to Action: Don’t miss the Champions League draw on August 28. Tune in live to see which matchups will define the season and set the stage for Europe’s football giants.