{
  "id": 599489,
  "title": "When does UEFA Champions League start? Playoff round schedule and bracket",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/when-does-uefa-champions-league-start-playoff-round-schedule-and",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-11T20:41:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/does-uefa-champions-league-start-204151198.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League has entered the playoff round, the final stage of qualifying before the 36-team league phase begins in September. The playoff round features seven two-legged ties, with winners advancing to join 29 other clubs directly qualified for the league phase. Matches will be played on Aug. 18-19 with second legs on Aug. 25-26 across Europe. The playoff winners will join the 29 teams in the league phase, which starts in September and runs until early January. The final is scheduled for June 5, 2027 in Madrid.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Hapoel Be'er Sheva defeats Red Star Belgrade, moving closer to Champions League group stage",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/hapoel-beer-sheva-defeats-red-star-belgrade-moving-closer-to",
        "published": "2026-08-11T23:42:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Champions League: Lyon defeat Prague and await Fenerbahce in playoffs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/champions-league-lyon-defeat-prague-and-await-fenerbahce-in-playoffs",
        "published": "2026-08-12T05:29:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}