The stage is set, the pots are drawn, and Europe’s elite have discovered their Champions League fate. As the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Draw beckons, football fans across the continent are dissecting fixtures, calculating potential paths to glory, and dreaming of May magic in Budapest.League Phase Draw – POT 1 and POT 2
With the second edition of the expanded 36-team format now underway, this year’s Champions League promises even more drama, with heavyweight clashes scattered throughout the league phase and six English clubs making unprecedented representation from a single nation.
2025-26 UEFA Champions League Draw:
Table of Contents
Here is the completed 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Draw for the 2025- 26 season.
League Phase Draw – POT 1 and POT 2
League Phase Draw – POT 3 and POT 4
The New Format: More Games, More Drama
The revolutionary league phase format continues into its second year, replacing the traditional group stage with a single table featuring all 36 qualified teams. Each club faces eight different opponents – two from each seeding pot – with four matches at home and four away.
The format creates 144 total matches in the league phase alone, a significant increase from the previous 96-game group stage. The top eight teams advance directly to the Round of 16, while positions 9-24 enter the knockout phase playoffs, and the bottom 12 are eliminated.
League Phase Schedule:
- Matchday 1: September 16-18, 2025
- Matchday 2: September 30-October 1, 2025
- Matchday 3: October 21-22, 2025
- Matchday 4: November 4-5, 2025
- Matchday 5: November 25-26, 2025
- Matchday 6: December 9-10, 2025
- Matchday 7: January 20-21, 2026
- Matchday 8: January 28, 2026
Defending Champions Face Mountain to Climb
Paris Saint-Germain returns as defending champions after their historic 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich, claiming their first-ever Champions League title. However, their path to defend the crown looks treacherous, with marquee matchups against Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Tottenham, and Newcastle United.
The French giants’ fixture list reads like a European super tournament, potentially facing Bayern Munich away – a rematch of their dramatic knockout encounters in recent years. Manager Luis Enrique will need to navigate these heavyweight clashes while managing expectations of back-to-back titles.
English Invasion: Six Clubs Seek Glory
For the first time in Champions League history, six English clubs have qualified for the main competition, with the Premier League’s coefficient strength earning unprecedented representation.
Liverpool enters as Premier League champions and league phase table-toppers from last season, though they fell to PSG in the quarterfinals on penalties. Under Arne Slot, they face a daunting draw including Real Madrid at Anfield, Inter Milan away, and Atletico Madrid at home.
Arsenal continues its European renaissance under Mikel Arteta, having reached the semifinals last season, where they stunned Real Madrid with a commanding 5-1 aggregate victory before falling to eventual champions PSG. The Gunners face Bayern Munich among their eight opponents, setting up potential revenge narratives.
Manchester City will look to bounce back after their playoff elimination by Real Madrid last season. Pep Guardiola’s side faces Real Madrid again, along with Borussia Dortmund and Napoli, where Kevin De Bruyne could return to the Etihad with his new Italian club.
Chelsea, the FIFA Club World Cup champions, host Barcelona in one of the draw’s standout fixtures, while Newcastle United makes their Champions League return with European Performance Spot qualification.
Tottenham earned their place as Europa League winners, adding another layer to England’s European dominance.
Spanish Giants Navigate Tricky Paths
Real Madrid faces perhaps the most challenging draw of the elite clubs, with fixtures against both Liverpool and Manchester City – two teams that eliminated them in recent seasons. The 15-time champions also host Juventus and travel to Kazakhstan to face Kairat Almaty, presenting logistical challenges alongside sporting ones.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s potential return to Anfield with Real Madrid represents one of the summer’s most intriguing storylines, as the England right-back joined Los Blancos after 20 years at Liverpool.
Barcelona faces their own heavyweight schedule, including Chelsea away and PSG at home. Playing at the Estadi Olímpic during Camp Nou renovations adds another variable to their European campaign.
Atletico Madrid and Athletic Club round out Spain’s representation, with Diego Simeone’s side facing Liverpool among their eight opponents.
German and Italian Powerhouses
Bayern Munich faces a stern test against Chelsea and PSG, while Borussia Dortmund hosts Manchester City in a repeat of their 2023 final opponents.
From Italy, Inter Milan travels to Liverpool for a rematch of last year’s league phase, while Napoli brings former Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne back to English soil. Atalanta and Juventus complete the Italian quartet.
2025-26 UEFA Champions League Prize Money Reaches Record Highs
UEFA expects record prize money of €2.5 billion this season, with last year’s winners PSG earning nearly €150 million, including TV and ranking payments. The eventual 2026 champions could exceed €100 million in prize money alone, not including broadcast and coefficient bonuses.
The financial stakes have never been higher, with participation in the league phase guaranteeing substantial revenue for all 36 clubs.
Road to Budapest
The journey culminates at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna on May 30, 2026, marking the first time Hungary hosts the Champions League final. The 67,215-capacity stadium previously hosted the 2023 Europa League final and four Euro 2020 matches.
In a significant scheduling change, UEFA has moved the final’s kick-off time from 9 PM to 6 PM CET, citing fan accessibility, safer travel, and broader global viewership as key factors.
Knockout Phase Evolution
The knockout phase playoffs begin February 17-18, 2026, with return legs on February 24-25. Teams finishing 9th-16th are seeded and face teams from positions 17-24, with the higher-ranked teams hosting the decisive second leg.
The Round of 16 commences March 10-11, followed by quarterfinals in April and semifinals in late April/early May, building toward the Budapest showpiece.
New Faces, Familiar Dreams
Several clubs make their Champions League debuts in the league phase, including Kairat Almaty (Kazakhstan), Bodø/Glimt (Norway), Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium), and Pafos (Cyprus). These newcomers add fresh storylines to European football’s premier competition.
The expanded format ensures more nations and clubs experience Champions League football, while maintaining the tournament’s elite standard through the challenging league phase structure.
Where Does Your Club Stand?
With fixtures now confirmed and the countdown to September begun, supporters can begin planning their European adventures. Whether your team faces a favorable path or a mountain of challenges, the beauty of the Champions League lies in its unpredictability.
From PSG’s title defence to Real Madrid’s revenge tour, from Liverpool’s Anfield fortress to Barcelona’s temporary home, the 2025-26 Champions League promises to deliver the drama, passion, and unforgettable moments that make this tournament the pinnacle of club football.
The question now isn’t just where your favourite club landed in the draw – it’s how far their European dream can take them on the road to Budapest.
