2026/27 Champions League playoff round draw: Fixtures, teams and schedule for final qualifying stage

Although the third qualifying round of the 2026/27 Champions League has yet to begin, UEFA has already held the draw for the playoff round, the final stage of qualification that will determine the last seven clubs to take part in this season’s 36-team league phase.

By the end of the 2025/26 campaign, 29 clubs had already booked their spots, leaving teams from across Europe scrambling to claim the remaining seven berths.

The first of four qualifying rounds began all the way back on July 7, nearly two weeks before the 2026 World Cup final. Kairat of Kazakhstan, who hosted Real Madrid in last season’s league phase, and Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia, who have previously played in the Champions League group stage, were among the teams taking part and remain in contention as the third qualifying round gets underway this week.

Champions League qualifying continues

The third qualifying round ties, which will be played across two legs on August 4/5 and August 11/12, will decide five of the 14 clubs that will compete in the playoff round.

The ties are:

Champions path

• Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) vs. Kauno Žalgiris (Lithuania)
• Mjällby AIF (Sweden) vs. Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia)
• Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) vs. Kairat (Kazakhstan)
• AGF (Denmark) vs. Sabah (Azerbaijan)
• Ararat-Armenia (Armenia) vs. Celje (Slovenia)
• Hapoel Be’er Sheva (Israel) vs. Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)

League path

• Olympiacos (Greece) vs. NEC (Netherlands)
• Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium) vs. Bodø/Glimt (Norway)
• Fenerbahçe (Turkey) vs. Sturm Graz (Austria)
• Sparta Prague (Czech Republic) vs. Lyon (France)

Four remaining clubs, all domestic league champions, enter qualifying in the playoff round: Celtic (Scotland), AEK Athens (Greece), LASK (Austria) and Viking (Norway).

2026/27 Champions League playoff draw

UEFA’s playoff round draw has thrown up the following matchups, although there is still plenty left to be decided before all of the ties are confirmed.

Champions path

• Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) or Kairat (Kazakhstan) vs. AEK Athens (Greece)
• Celtic (Scotland) vs. LASK (Austria)
• Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) or Kauno Žalgiris (Lithuania) vs. Viking (Norway)
• Mjällby AIF (Sweden) or Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) vs. Ararat-Armenia (Armenia) or Celje (Slovenia)
• Hapoel Be’er Sheva (Israel) or Red Star Belgrade (Serbia) vs. AGF (Denmark) or Sabah (Azerbaijan)

League path

• Fenerbahçe (Turkey) or Sturm Graz (Austria) vs. Sparta Prague (Czech Republic) or Lyon (France)
• Olympiacos (Greece) or NEC (Netherlands) vs. Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium) or Bodø/Glimt (Norway)

The playoff round ties will also take place over two legs, with matches scheduled for August 18/19 and August 25/26.

The draw for the league phase of the 2026/27 Champions League will take place on Thursday, August 27.

Confirmed 2026/27 Champions League league phase teams

Twenty-nine of the 36 teams in the league phase qualified directly. They are:

England

• Arsenal
• Aston Villa
• Liverpool
• Manchester City
• Manchester United

Spain

• Atlético Madrid
• Barcelona
• Real Betis
• Real Madrid
• Villarreal

Italy

• Como
• Inter Milan
• Napoli
• Roma

Germany

• Bayern Munich
• Borussia Dortmund
• RB Leipzig
• Stuttgart

Netherlands

• Feyenoord
• PSV

Portugal

• Porto
• Sporting CP

Belgium

• Club Brugge

Czechia

• Slavia Prague

Turkey

• Galatasaray

Ukraine

• Shakhtar Donetsk

Champions League league phase schedule

• Matchday 1: September 8-10, 2026
• Matchday 2: October 13/14, 2026
• Matchday 3: October 20/21, 2026
• Matchday 4: November 3/4, 2026
• Matchday 5: November 24/25, 2026
• Matchday 6: December 8/9, 2026
• Matchday 7: January 19/20, 2027
• Matchday 8: January 27, 2027

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