Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Champions League 2026-27 Draw Sets Up Blockbuster Club Matches
The Champions League draw decided which teams will play each other in the 2026-27 competition.
Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champion, will meet Barcelona and Manchester City.
Real Madrid will play Inter Milan and Arsenal.
Bayern Munich and Manchester United will also face each other.
There are 36 teams in one large league table instead of separate groups.
Each team will play eight different opponents.
Four games will be at home and four will be away.
The top eight teams will go straight to the Round of 16.
Teams placed ninth through 24th will play extra knockout matches, while the rest will be eliminated.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will face Barcelona and Manchester City in the league phase.
Real Madrid will play Inter Milan and Arsenal, including an away match in London.
Bayern Munich and Manchester United will renew their rivalry in the new league format.
The draw took place at Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum on August 27.
All 36 teams will play eight opponents, with the top eight advancing directly to the Round of 16.
- Who
- The 36 clubs competing in the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League, including Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
- What
- The league-phase draw assigned each club eight opponents under the Champions League’s new format.
- When
- The draw took place on August 27.
- Where
- The draw was held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
- Why
- The draw established the league-phase schedule and qualification paths for the tournament.
- Competition
- UEFA Champions League 2026-27
- Draw venue
- Grimaldi Forum, Monaco
- Defending champions
- Paris Saint-Germain
- League-phase teams
- 36
- Matches per club
- Eight: four home and four away
- Direct Round of 16 qualification
- Teams finishing in the top eight
- Knockout play-offs
- Teams finishing ninth through 24th
- Elimination
- Teams finishing 25th or lower