Due to the fact that 29 elite clubs have already qualified for the 36-team league phase, the 2025–2026 UEFA Champions League is rapidly approaching.
The playoff rounds will determine the final group of clubs for the Champions League campaign.
All the information you require on who is participating, what will happen next, and how to follow the competition is provided below.
The Champions League playoff draw is the next big event on UEFA’s agenda, and it is set for Monday, August 4, at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
The final seven teams that join the elite 29 already qualifying are decided by this pivotal draw.
Following the publication of seeding details and procedural rules at 08:30 CET on the same day, fans can watch the draw live on UEFA.com.
The third qualifying round, with first-leg games on August 5 and 6 and return legs on August 12 and 13, is the final obstacle before the playoffs.
Verified Teams for the League Phase of 2025–2026
Arsenal (ENG), Atalanta (ITA), Athletic Club (ESP), Atletico Madrid (ESP), Barcelona (ESP), Bayer Leverkusen (GER), Bayern Munich (GER), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Chelsea (ENG), Galatasaray (TUR), Inter Milan (ITA), Juventus (ITA), Liverpool (ENG), Manchester City (ENG), Marseille (FRA), Monaco (FRA), Napoli (ITA), Newcastle (ENG), Olympiacos (GRE), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), PSV Eindhoven (NED), Real Madrid (ESP), Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL), Slavia Prague (CZE), Sporting CP (POR), Tottenham Hotspur (ENG), Villarreal (ESP)
Seven additional teams from the playoff round will join the previously stated clubs, increasing the total to 36 teams.
The top eight teams from the league phase advance straight to the Round of 16 in the 2025–2026 UEFA Champions League.
There is no Europa League safety net, as the bottom eight teams are eliminated.
To decide the final eight slots in the Round of 16, teams placed ninth through twenty-fourth advance to a knockout playoff.
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After that, the format switches back to the traditional two-legged knockouts, with the final bout taking place in Budapest.
Crucial Dates for the 2025–2026 Champions League
August 5–6 (first legs), August 12–13 (second legs) is the date of the third qualifying round.
Playoff Round: First Legs, August 19–20, Second Legs, August 26–27
League Phase Draw Schedule: August 28
Matchdays for the League Phase: September 16–18–January 28, 2026
Playoffs for knockouts: February 17–25
February 27 is the final knockout draw date.
Round of 16: 10–18 March
Quarterfinals: 7–15 April
Final Round: April 28–May 6
Last day: May 30, 2026
The Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, will host the 2026 UEFA Champions League final on May 30. The arena, which can accommodate 67,215 people, will host the Champions League final for the first time.
How to watch the Champions League campaign in 2025–2026:
While official coverage and draws are still available on UEFA.com, fans can follow all of the qualifiers, fixtures, and updates in real time on websites like Flashscore as the trip to Budapest gets underway.
Live game coverage will also be available on a number of platforms, including Sky, Amazon Prime, DAZN, Canal+, TNT Sports, SuperSport, beIN, and Paramount+.
