The 2026/27 Champions League draw is near: Here’s when the schedule will be revealed

The 2026/27 Champions League is quickly gathering pace, with the competition having reached the third of four qualifying rounds, which begin this week.

As has been the case in each of the last two seasons, 36 teams will take part in the league phase, with 29 clubs already qualified. Seven berths are therefore still up for grabs through qualifying, with 24 teams remaining in contention.

The following clubs will contest the third qualifying round, with first legs to be played on Aug. 4 and 5, and second legs on Aug. 11 and 12.

2026/27 Champions League: third qualifying round games

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) or Sturm Graz (Austria)

*Sparta Prague (Czech Republic) or Lyon (France)

* Winner of the tie will be seeded in the playoff round.

When is the Champions League playoff draw?

The winners of those ties will progress to the playoff round, the final stage of qualifying. The draw takes place today, Monday, Aug. 3, at noon local time in Switzerland, which is 6 a.m. ET and 3 a.m. PT.

Four new clubs will enter the competition in the playoff round, all in the champions path: Celtic (Scotland, seeded), AEK Athens (Greece, seeded), LASK (Austria, unseeded) and Viking (Norway, unseeded).

The 14 remaining teams will then battle for the final seven places in the league phase of the 2026/27 Champions League.

When is the 2026/27 Champions League playoff round?

The playoff round will also be played over two legs, scheduled for Aug. 18 and 19, and Aug. 25 and 26.

When is the draw for the league phase of the 2026/27 Champions League?

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

Confirmed 2026-27 Champions League league phase teams

Twenty-nine of the 36 teams in the league phase qualified automatically. 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: Sept. 8 to 10, 2026

Matchday 2: Oct. 13 and 14, 2026

Matchday 3: Oct. 20 and 21, 2026

Matchday 4: Nov. 3 and 4, 2026

Matchday 5: Nov. 24 and 25, 2026

Matchday 6: Dec. 8 and 9, 2026

Matchday 7: Jan. 19 and 20, 2027

Matchday 8: Jan. 27, 2027

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