🏆 UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase Draw: All You Need to Know
Published on Sportsphere24 – August 28, 2025
Welcome to Sportsphere24, your premier source for comprehensive sports coverage. Today marks a significant milestone in European club football as the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league phase draw takes place. This season introduces a revamped format, and fans worldwide are eager to see how the new system unfolds.
🕒 When Is the Draw?
The draw is scheduled for Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 6:00 PM CEST (Central European Summer Time), which corresponds to 7:00 PM EAT in Nairobi. The event will be held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco and will be streamed live on UEFA's official website.
🏆 New Format: What’s Changed?
This season, UEFA has replaced the traditional group stage with a league phase format. Here's how it works:
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36 Teams: The league phase features 36 teams, including 29 direct qualifiers and 7 play-off winners.
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8 Matches per Team: Each team will play 8 matches—4 home and 4 away—against opponents drawn from four seeding pots.
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No Country Clashes: Teams from the same country cannot face each other more than twice.
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Automated Draw: The draw will be conducted using an automated system, with manual input for the top seeds.
🧪 How Will the Draw Work?
The 36 participating teams have been split into four pots based on their individual UEFA coefficient rankings. The draw will proceed as follows:
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Pot 1: Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Real Madrid (ESP), Manchester City (ENG), Bayern Munich (GER), Liverpool (ENG), Inter Milan (ITA), Chelsea (ENG), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Barcelona (ESP).
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Pot 2: Arsenal (ENG), Bayer Leverkusen (GER), Atlético Madrid (ESP), Benfica (POR), Atalanta (ITA), Villarreal (ESP), Juventus (ITA), Eintracht Frankfurt (GER), Club Brugge (BEL).
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Pot 3: Tottenham Hotspur (ENG), PSV Eindhoven (NED), Ajax (NED), Napoli (ITA), Sporting CP (POR), Olympiacos (GRE), Slavia Prague (CZE), Bodø/Glimt (NOR), Marseille (FRA).
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Pot 4: Copenhagen (DEN), AS Monaco (FRA), Galatasaray (TUR), Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL), Qarabağ (AZE), Athletic Club (ESP), Newcastle United (ENG), Pafos (CYP), Kairat Almaty (KAZ).
📺 How to Watch the Draw
Fans can watch the draw live on UEFA's official website and the Champions League app. Additionally, various broadcasters will provide coverage depending on your region. For viewers in the UK, the draw will be available on talkSPORT's website, app, and radio coverage, including post-draw analysis.
🌍 Key Teams to Watch
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Paris Saint-Germain: As the defending champions, PSG enters the competition with high expectations following their dominant 5-0 win over Inter Milan in last season's final.
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Newcastle United: Returning to the Champions League after a long absence, Newcastle will be eager to make an impact.
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Union Saint-Gilloise: Making their debut in the league phase, the Belgian side will look to prove themselves against Europe's elite.
📅 Upcoming Fixtures
The league phase matches are set to begin between September 16 and 18, 2025, with the final matchday scheduled for January 28, 2026. The knockout phase will commence on January 30, 2026, culminating in the final at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, on May 30, 2026.
🔮 What to Expect
With the new format, fans can anticipate more exciting matchups and increased competition. The league phase promises to deliver thrilling encounters as teams vie for a spot in the knockout rounds.
Stay tuned to Sportsphere24 for continuous coverage and expert insights on all things football.