The stage is set for another thrilling season of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26, with Europe’s elite preparing to learn their fate in the all-important League Phase draw this week.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, who dismantled Inter Milan in last season’s final, will be the team everyone wants to beat. Luis Enrique’s men carry the biggest target on their backs as Europe’s finest attempt to dethrone them.
The new campaign also sees the much-anticipated return of Newcastle United to the Champions League after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season, while Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise make their debut in the competition.
When is the Champions League 2025/26 Draw?
📅 Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025
📍 Venue: Grimaldi Forum, Monaco
⏰ Time: 5pm UK time
Fans worldwide can follow the draw live on UEFA’s official channels and across major sports broadcasters.
Champions League 2025/26 Format Explained
This season continues with UEFA’s revamped structure, which replaced the traditional group stage last year. Instead of groups, there will be a 36-team league phase.
Key details:
- Each team plays eight matches (four home, four away).
- Teams are divided into four pots of nine based on UEFA coefficient ranking.
- Each club faces two opponents from each pot.
- Clubs from the same country cannot meet in the league phase.
- No more than two teams from one nation can be drawn against the same side.
- The draw will be computer-assisted but conducted manually team by team.
Champions League 2025/26 Pots
- Pot 1
× Paris Saint-Germain
× Real Madrid
× Manchester City
× Bayern Munich
× Liverpool
× Inter Milan
× Chelsea
× Borussia Dortmund
× Barcelona
- Pot 2
× Arsenal
×Bayer Leverkusen
× Atletico Madrid
× Atalanta
× Villarreal
× Juventus
× Eintracht Frankfurt
- Pot 3
× PSV Eindhoven
× Ajax
× Napoli
× Sporting CP
× Olympiacos
× Slavia Prague
× Bodo/Glimt
× Marseille
- Pot 4
× Monaco
× Galatasaray
× Union Saint-Gilloise
× Athletic Bilbao
× Newcastle United
× Pafos
× Kairat
- Pot TBC (Play-off Winners)
× Tottenham
× Ferencvaros / Qarabag
× Basel / Copenhagen
× Fenerbahce / Benfica
× Rangers / Club Brugge
What to Expect
With giants like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Barcelona all in Pot 1 alongside PSG, the draw promises blockbuster clashes from the very first round.
English clubs will be well represented with Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, and Tottenham all set to feature. Meanwhile, debutants Union Saint-Gilloise will be hoping to make history against Europe’s powerhouses.
Football fans are in for a feast of drama as the Champions League League Phase unfolds – where every fixture feels like a knockout tie.
