The draw for the UEFA Champions League playoffs and knockout rounds is set for Friday, Sept. 30, determining the matchups and bracket for the rest of final rounds of the competition.
The 2025-26 campaign marks the second year of the Champions League’ new, expanded format. After playing eight ‘league phase’ matches, the top eight teams in the standings advance directly to the Round of 16, while the ninth through 24th-placed finishers face off in two-legged playoffs to decide who joins them.
The first legs of the playoff matchups will be played on Feb. 17 and 18 with the return matches set for Feb. 24 and 25.
Here’s what to know for Friday’s draw:
When is the Champions League draw? How to watch, stream
Date: Friday, Jan. 30
Time: 6 a.m. ET
Live stream: UEFA.com
How does Champions League playoff draw work?
According to UEFA:
The clubs are paired based on their positions at the end of the league phase to form four seeded pairs (clubs in positions 9 and 10, 11 and 12, 13 and 14, and 15 and 16) and four unseeded pairs (positions 17 and 18, 19 and 20, 21 and 22, and 23 and 24).
The clubs in each seeded pair are drawn against the clubs in each unseeded pair: clubs 9 or 10 against clubs 23 or 24, clubs 11 or 12 against clubs 21 or 22, clubs 13 or 14 against clubs 19 or 20, and clubs 15 or 16 against clubs 17 or 18.
The fixtures for the round of 16 are determined by means of a draw conducted in accordance with the following principles:
The clubs are paired based on their positions at the end of the league phase to form four seeded pairs (clubs in positions 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 7 and 8).
The clubs in each seeded pair are drawn into one of two positions in the round of 16 against the relevant winner of the knockout phase play-offs, whose position is determined by the knockout phase play-off draw
Which Champions League teams have advanced?
Arsenal
Bayern Munich
Liverpool
Tottenham
Barcelona
Chelsea
Sporting CP
Manchester City
Real Madrid
Inter Milan
Paris Saint-Germain
Newcastle United
Juventus
Atlético Madrid
Atalanta
Bayer Leverkusen
Borussia Dortmund
Olympiacos
Club Brugge
Galatasaray
Monaco
Qarabağ
Bodø/Glimt
Benfica
Champions League knockout round schedule
Playoff round
First legs: Feb. 17 and 18
Second legs: Feb 24 and 25
Round of 16
First legs: March 10 and 11
Second legs: March 17 and 18
Quarterfinals
First legs: April 7 and 8
Second legs: April 14 and 15
Semifinals
First legs: April 28 and 29
Second legs: May 5 and 6
Final
May 30 in Budapest