The countdown to the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League is officially underway, and with a fresh league-style format and a star-studded lineup of clubs, this season promises high-stakes drama from start to finish. With the draw now complete and the fixtures on the horizon, here’s everything fans need to know—from qualified teams and new scheduling to crucial dates and the venue for this year’s grand finale.
Champions League Draw: Format and Results
The draw for the new-look league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League took place on August 28 in Monaco at 18:00 CET. Unlike the old group-stage format, the competition now follows a 36-team league model, introduced last season.
All 36 clubs were split into four pots based on UEFA’s club coefficient rankings. Paris Saint-Germain, as reigning Champions League holders, were automatically seeded in Pot 1. Each team was randomly assigned eight opponents—two from each pot—ensuring a fair mix of competition and balance in home and away matches. Importantly, no club was drawn against a team from its own country more than twice, preserving the international nature of the tournament.
Fixture details, including kick-off times and venues, will be officially released on Saturday, August 30.
Full List of Qualified Clubs for 2025/26
The following 36 teams have secured their place in this season’s Champions League:
Ajax, Arsenal, Atalanta, Athletic Club, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Bodo/Glimt, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Club Brugge, Eintracht Frankfurt, FC Copenhagen, Galatasaray, Inter Milan, Juventus, Kairat Almaty, Liverpool, Manchester City, Marseille, Monaco, Napoli, Newcastle, Olympiacos, Pafos, Paris Saint-Germain, PSV Eindhoven, Qarabag, Real Madrid, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Slavia Prague, Sporting CP, Tottenham Hotspur, Villarreal.
Key Dates on the 2025/26 Champions League Calendar
- League Phase Matchdays: September 16–18 (First Round) to January 28, 2026 (Final Round)
- Knockout Playoff Draw: January 30, 2026
- Knockout Playoffs: February 17–18 (First Legs), February 24–25 (Second Legs)
- Round of 16 Draw: February 27, 2026
- Round of 16 Matches: March 10–11 & March 17–18
- Quarter-finals: April 7–8 & April 14–15
- Semi-finals: April 28–29 & May 5–6
- Champions League Final: May 30, 2026
Final Venue: Budapest’s Puskás Aréna to Host the Showpiece
For the first time in tournament history, Hungary will host the UEFA Champions League final. Set for May 30, 2026, the prestigious match will be played at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest—a modern, all-seater stadium with a capacity of 67,215 fans. The venue has previously hosted major international fixtures, and this final promises to be its biggest footballing moment yet.
Understanding the New Champions League Format
UEFA introduced a significant overhaul to its flagship competition beginning with the 2024/25 season. The familiar group stage has been replaced by a 36-team single league phase. Each team plays eight unique opponents—four at home and four away.
Here’s how progression works:
- Top 8 teams in the league phase advance directly to the Round of 16.
- Teams ranked 9th to 24th enter the knockout playoffs to compete for the remaining eight Round of 16 spots.
- Bottom 12 teams are eliminated and do not drop into the Europa League.
From the Round of 16 onwards, the format mirrors the traditional knockout stages, culminating in the final.
