When does UEFA Champions League start? Playoff round schedule and bracket
The new UEFA Champions League season is down to its final round of qualification.
The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League is set to enter the playoff round, marking the final stage of qualification before the league phase commences in September. Seven two-legged ties will determine which teams advance to the league phase, joining 29 other clubs that qualified directly. Matches will take place on August 18-19, with the second legs scheduled for August 25-26 throughout Europe.
Key participants in the playoff round include Scottish side Celtic, Turkish club Fenerbahçe, and Norwegian outfit Bodø/Glimt, among others. Fans can catch all the action exclusively on Paramount+, where the UEFA Champions League streams live.
Here's a breakdown of the playoff round schedule:
- Matches: August 18-19, August 25-26
- Second legs: August 25-26
The winning teams from these ties will progress to the league phase, which kicks off on September 8 and concludes on January 27, 2027. Each team will play eight matches overall. The knockout playoffs commence on February 16-17 and February 23-24, leading to the Round of 16 in March, Quarterfinals in April, Semifinals on April 27-28, and the Final on May 5, 2027, all held in Madrid.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
