UEFA Champions League

UEFA 2025/26 Champions League draw: times, how to watch on TV, stream online | league phase draw

All eyes on Thursday will be firmly fixed to the action in Monaco as the fixture list for the league phase of the new 25/26 UCL season will be revealed.

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Paul Reidy

Irish native who switched from the music industry to the world of sport moving from Universal Music to AS in 2017. A keen runner, soccer player and now discovering the world's fastest growing sport of padel. A fútbol fanatic covering LaLiga, MLS, Liga MX and other offbeat stories from the global game. Can always be found rooting for the underdog.

Update: Aug 27th, 2025 16:59 EDT

Almost 90 days have passed since PSG were crowned champions of Europe in Munich after swatting Inter Milan aside in a very one sided final.

This Thursday, the 36 teams that progress to the league stage of the new Champions League ‘Swiss Model’ league format will discover their fixtures for the eight matchdays.

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Instead of being divided into eight groups of four, all 36 teams are now part of a single league table with each team set to play eight matches in the league phase, a change from the previous six. They will face eight different opponents, with four matches at home and four away.

Champions League: schedule for league phase

Matchday 1: 16–18 September 2025
Matchday 2: 30 September–1 October 2025
Matchday 3: 21/22 October 2025
Matchday 4: 4/5 November 2025
Matchday 5: 25/26 November 2025
Matchday 6: 9/10 December 2025
Matchday 7: 20/21 January 2026
Matchday 8: 28 January 2026

What time does the Champions League draw start?

The gala event will commence in Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum on Thursday, 28 August with a 6pm local start (12pm ET/9am PT). The entire event is expected to take roughly 45 minutes.

UEFA 2025/26 Champions League draw: times, how to watch on TV, stream online | league phase draw — Stuart Franklin - UEFA

How can I watch the Champions League draw?

The draw can be followed via the UEFA official YouTube channel and you can also be sure not to miss a moment of the action by joining our live text commentary right here on AS USA. Build up begins around an hour before kick-off.

Qualified teams

UEFA Champions League Title Holder:
Paris Saint-Germain (as they also qualified via their domestic league, a spot was rebalanced to another team).
UEFA Europa League Title Holder:
Tottenham Hotspur
Domestic League Performance:
England (4): Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea
Spain (4): Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, Athletic Club
Germany (4): Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund
Italy (4): Napoli, Inter Milan, Atalanta, Juventus
France (3): Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Monaco
Netherlands (2): PSV Eindhoven, Ajax
Portugal (1): Sporting CP
Belgium (1): Union Saint-Gilloise
Turkey (1): Galatasaray
Czechia (1): Slavia Prague
European Performance Spots (2):
Newcastle United
Villarreal
Champions League Winner Rebalancing (1):
Olympiacos (This spot was re-allocated because the UCL winner, PSG, had qualified through their league position).

Teams qualified via play-off path

Champions Path (5 winners)

Kairat Almaty
Pafos
Bodø/Glimt
Qarabağ
Copenhagen

League Path (2 winners)

Benfica
Club Brugge

Qarabağ are through to the Champions League proper ✅#UCL pic.twitter.com/4s87HgSz3h
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 27, 2025