Champions League draw: How it works, format, qualified teams, how to watch

The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League draw will take place on Thursday in Monaco, revealing the schedule for the League Phase, which kicks off on September 8. Paris Saint-Germain is the reigning champion, having defeated Arsenal in the 2025-26 final via penalty kicks after a penalty shootout. Only Real Madrid has achieved three consecutive titles in the competition's history.

Thirty-six teams will compete in the League Phase, with 29 having secured their spots through their position in their domestic league. The remaining seven teams will be determined through qualifying rounds concluding on Wednesday. The League Phase draw will occur at 12 p.m. ET from Monaco and will be broadcast on Paramount+, ViX, CBS Sports Golazo, DAZN, fuboTV, UEFA.com, and UEFA.tv.

Teams are divided into four pots based on their UEFA club coefficients, which reflect their performance in European competitions over the past five seasons. Pot 1 includes Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid. The other pots consist of various teams from across Europe, including clubs from Belgium, Czechia, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey.