Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Champions League Draw Set Amid Escalating UEFA-FIFA Feud
The Champions League draw decides which soccer teams will play one another.
This year’s draw is happening while European soccer leaders are arguing with FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino.
UEFA leaders are unhappy about a plan to sell parts of World Cup-related profits to private investors.
UEFA’s member federations will meet before the draw to discuss the disagreement.
Each of the 36 teams will receive eight opponents.
They will play four games at home and four away.
The best eight teams will go straight to the next knockout round.
Teams finishing from ninth to 24th will play extra knockout games, while the remaining teams will be eliminated.
The clubs will share about €2.5 billion in prize money.
UEFA’s 55 member federations will meet in Monaco before Thursday’s Champions League draw to discuss a governance crisis involving FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
UEFA members are expected to formally withdraw a threat to boycott FIFA competitions linked to Infantino’s proposed sale of World Cup profit stakes to private investors.
The 36-team Champions League league phase will assign each club eight opponents, with four matches at home and four away.
The competition begins Sept. 8-10, while the league phase’s final round is scheduled for Jan. 27.
The participating clubs will share about €2.5 billion ($2.9 billion) in prize money, and four teams will make their Champions League debuts.
- Who
- UEFA’s 55 member federations, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and the 36 Champions League teams are central to the event.
- What
- The Champions League league-phase draw will take place alongside meetings about a UEFA-FIFA governance dispute.
- When
- The draw is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. local time, or 1600 GMT; matches begin Sept. 8-10 and the final league-phase round is Jan. 27.
- Where
- The draw and soccer leaders’ meetings will take place in Monaco.
- Why
- UEFA members are addressing opposition to Infantino’s proposed sale of stakes in World Cup profits to private investors while determining the Champions League schedule.
UEFA and European Federations
Infantino’s FIFA Initiative
Sale of World Cup-related profits
UEFA and European Federations
UEFA’s member federations are addressing a governance crisis and are expected to withdraw a threat to boycott FIFA competitions over the proposed transaction.
Infantino’s FIFA Initiative
Infantino’s plan sought to sell stakes in World Cup profits through a new commercial subsidiary to private investors led by Joshua Kushner.
Leadership and governance
UEFA and European Federations
UEFA has said it has no confidence in Infantino’s leadership, and Aleksander Ceferin will chair the federation meeting in Monaco.
Infantino’s FIFA Initiative
Infantino is up for reelection in March; he is not expected to attend the Monaco meetings.
- Draw time
- Thursday at 6 p.m. local time in Monaco, or 1600 GMT
- League-phase teams
- 36
- Opponents per team
- Eight: four at home and four away
- Competition opening
- Sept. 8-10
- Qualification format
- The top eight advance directly; teams ranked ninth through 24th enter knockout playoffs; teams ranked 25th through 36th are eliminated
- Prize money
- About €2.5 billion ($2.9 billion) shared by the 36 teams
- Debutants
- Como, LASK, Viking, and Sabah