Champions League: Draw, Opponents, Format, Schedule
ParticipantsThe final seven of the 36 participants will be determined late Wednesday evening after the final whistle of the playoff second-leg matches. They will be distributed into four pots of nine ...
The final seven teams of the 36 participating clubs in the Champions League will be revealed late Wednesday evening following the conclusion of the playoff second-leg matches. These teams will be divided into four groups of nine clubs each, determined by their UEFA coefficient rankings. Borussia Dortmund, who finished 11th in the rankings with 100.750 points, will be placed in Pot 2.
The draw will randomly assign each of the 36 participants two opponents from the four different draw pots for the league phase, with the stipulation that clubs cannot face teams from the same association. Each club will face four home and four away games throughout the league phase, with the combined results determining their final standings.
The top eight teams will advance directly to the round of 16, while the remaining teams will compete in a playoff format to secure their spots. The league phase, consisting of eight matchdays, will kick off on September 8, 2026, and conclude on January 27, 2027. The playoffs are set to begin in mid-February 2027. UEFA will release the complete schedule, including match dates and kickoff times, by August 29, 2026. Ticket information is expected to be announced shortly thereafter.
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