UEFA officially confirms 2026-2027 Champions League draw date

UEFA has officially confirmed the date for the 2026-2027 Champions League league phase draw. The governing body announced that the event will take place on Thursday, August 27, setting the stage for the 36 teams qualified for Europe's premier club competition.

Several spots in the competition remain undecided as the knockout rounds of qualification are currently underway. Clubs involved in these two-legged qualifiers must secure their advancement with return legs scheduled for August 25 and 26. Once these final hurdles are cleared, the full list of participants for the 2026-2027 campaign will be set for the draw.

The league phase format, first introduced in the 2024-2025 season, continues to define the competition. All 36 teams will play eight matches in the opening phase—four at home and four away—against various opponents. The top eight finishers advance directly to the round of 16, while those ranked ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged play-off to reach the knockout stage.

Paris Saint-Germain enters the new season as the team to beat, having secured the last two continental titles under this revamped format.