The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League draw is taking place today, Thursday, August 27, as Europe’s biggest clubs discover their opponents for the new league phase.
The draw begins at 18:00 CET (5:00 p.m. UK time) at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. It can be watched live and free through UEFA’s official platforms.
Among the clubs waiting to discover their opponents are Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Aston Villa.
The new Champions League season will feature 36 teams, with each club facing eight different opponents in the league phase.
Here is everything you need to know about the Champions League draw 26/27, including the draw time, pots, Arsenal’s draw, Manchester United’s draw, Liverpool’s fixtures, how to watch the UCL draw and the full Champions League schedule.
When Is the Champions League Draw 2026/27?
The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase draw takes place on:
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
Time: 18:00 CET
Location: Grimaldi Forum, Monaco
For viewers in the UK, the draw starts at 5:00 p.m. BST.
For viewers in Nigeria, the draw starts at 5:00 p.m. WAT.
UEFA has confirmed that the ceremony will be streamed live through UEFA.com, UEFA.tv and the Champions League app.
Where Can I Watch the Champions League Draw?
The easiest way to watch the UCL draw live is through UEFA’s official platforms.
You can watch it for free on:
- UEFA.com
- UEFA.tv
- The official Champions League app
UEFA has confirmed that the draw will be streamed live.
Watch the Champions League draw live on UEFA.com
So if you are searching for where to watch the Champions League draw, what channel is the Champions League draw on, or how to watch the UCL draw, UEFA’s official live stream is the most direct option.
What Time Is the UCL Draw?
The Champions League draw starts at 18:00 CET.
That means:
- UK: 5:00 p.m.
- Nigeria: 5:00 p.m.
- Central Europe: 6:00 p.m.
- Eastern Europe: 7:00 p.m.
The draw takes place in Monaco.
Champions League Draw Pots 2026/27
The 36 clubs have been divided into four pots of nine teams.
The pots are based primarily on UEFA coefficient rankings, with the Champions League holders placed at the top of Pot 1.
Pot 1
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Bayern Munich
- Real Madrid
- Liverpool
- Inter Milan
- Manchester City
- Arsenal
- Barcelona
- Atlético Madrid
Pot 2
- Borussia Dortmund
- Roma
- Sporting CP
- Aston Villa
- Porto
- Manchester United
- Club Brugge
- Real Betis
- PSV Eindhoven
Pot 3
- Feyenoord
- Lille
- Bodø/Glimt
- Napoli
- RB Leipzig
- Villarreal
- Fenerbahçe
- Shakhtar Donetsk
- Galatasaray
Pot 4
- Slavia Prague
- Slovan Bratislava
- Stuttgart
- AEK Athens
- LASK
- Como
- Lens
- Viking
- Sabah
How Does the Champions League Draw Work?
The Champions League no longer uses the traditional four-team group stage.
Since the 2024/25 season, UEFA has used a 36-team league phase.
Each club plays eight different opponents.
Four matches are played at home and four away.
The opponents are selected from the four different pots, meaning every club receives two opponents from each pot.
There are also restrictions preventing clubs from being drawn against teams from the same country during the league phase, subject to UEFA’s draw rules.
Arsenal Champions League Draw 2026/27
Arsenal are in Pot 1 for the 2026/27 Champions League draw.
That puts Mikel Arteta’s side among the highest-ranked teams in the competition.
Arsenal therefore cannot draw another Pot 1 club during the league-phase draw.
However, they can receive opponents from Pots 2, 3 and 4.
That means Arsenal fans will be watching closely to see whether the Gunners receive a favorable or difficult schedule.
Possible Arsenal opponents include:
Pot 2:
Manchester United, Aston Villa, Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Porto, Sporting CP, PSV and others.
Pot 3:
Napoli, Feyenoord, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Lille and others.
Pot 4:
Slavia Prague, LASK, Stuttgart, AEK Athens, Como and others.
The actual Arsenal opponents will be confirmed by the draw.
Arsenal Champions League Fixtures
The exact Arsenal Champions League fixtures will not be confirmed immediately after every pairing is drawn.
UEFA says the complete fixture list, including specific match dates and kick-off times, will be communicated no later than Saturday, August 29.
The eight league-phase matchdays are already known.
Arsenal’s Champions League schedule
| Matchday | Date |
|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | September 8–10, 2026 |
| Matchday 2 | October 13/14 |
| Matchday 3 | October 20/21 |
| Matchday 4 | November 3/4 |
| Matchday 5 | November 24/25 |
| Matchday 6 | December 8/9 |
| Matchday 7 | January 19/20, 2027 |
| Matchday 8 | January 27, 2027 |
Liverpool Champions League Draw
Liverpool are also in Pot 1.
That means the Reds will avoid fellow Pot 1 clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona during the league-phase draw.
Liverpool will nevertheless face eight opponents from across the other pots.
Their exact Liverpool Champions League fixtures will be announced by UEFA after the draw process is completed.
Manchester City Champions League Draw
Manchester City are another Pot 1 club.
City have become regular contenders for European football’s biggest prize and will again enter the competition among the strongest teams.
Being in Pot 1 means City cannot face Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich or the other Pot 1 teams during this stage.
Manchester United Champions League Draw
Manchester United are in Pot 2.
That makes their draw particularly interesting.
United cannot face the other Pot 2 teams, but they can be drawn against clubs from Pot 1, Pot 3 and Pot 4.
Potential Pot 1 opponents include:
- Arsenal
- Liverpool
- Manchester City
- Real Madrid
- Bayern Munich
- Barcelona
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Inter
- Atlético Madrid
That means a difficult draw is certainly possible.
Manchester United Champions League Fixtures
United will play eight league-phase matches.
Four will be at Old Trafford and four will be away.
The opponents will be determined by the draw, while the precise dates and kick-off times will follow from UEFA.
Fans searching for Man United Champions League fixtures, Manchester United Champions League draw and Man Utd Champions League fixtures will therefore need to wait for the final fixture announcement.
Aston Villa Champions League Draw
Aston Villa are in Pot 2.
That is a significant achievement for the club.
Villa qualified for the Champions League after winning the 2025/26 Europa League, adding another major chapter to their European history. UEFA lists their best European Cup performance as winning the competition in 1981/82.
Villa therefore have the opportunity to face some of Europe’s biggest clubs during the 2026/27 league phase.
Slavia Prague Champions League Draw
Slavia Prague are in Pot 4.
The Czech club secured their place in the league phase and will be among the teams that clubs from Pots 1, 2 and 3 can potentially draw.
Their inclusion also means clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United could potentially be paired with Slavia Prague, subject to the draw restrictions.
LASK Champions League Draw
LASK are also in Pot 4.
Their place in the competition follows a dramatic qualifying campaign.
LASK overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Celtic by winning the second leg 5-1 after extra time, progressing 5-4 on aggregate.
That comeback secured LASK a place in the Champions League league phase.
It is one of the most remarkable stories of this year’s qualifying campaign.
Are There Champions League Groups in 2026/27?
No traditional groups.
This is an important point for anyone searching for Champions League groups.
The competition now has one 36-team league phase rather than eight groups of four.
Every club plays eight matches.
After the league phase:
- 1st–8th: qualify directly for the round of 16
- 9th–24th: enter the knockout phase play-offs
- 25th–36th: eliminated from European competition
Champions League Standings 2026/27
The Champions League standings will become meaningful once the league phase begins.
UEFA will maintain a single table containing all 36 clubs.
Points will determine the positions.
The top eight qualify automatically for the round of 16, while teams finishing ninth through 24th must go through the knockout phase play-offs.
Champions League Games and Schedule
The first league-phase matches are scheduled for September 8–10, 2026.
The complete schedule is:
Matchday 1
September 8–10, 2026
Matchday 2
October 13–14, 2026
Matchday 3
October 20–21, 2026
Matchday 4
November 3–4, 2026
Matchday 5
November 24–25, 2026
Matchday 6
December 8–9, 2026
Matchday 7
January 19–20, 2027
Matchday 8
January 27, 2027
The full fixture list, including individual club dates and kick-off times, will be published no later than August 29.
When Is the Champions League Final 2027?
The 2027 Champions League final will be played on:
Saturday, June 5, 2027
The venue is the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, home of Atlético Madrid.
The stadium previously hosted the 2019 Champions League final, when Liverpool defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0.
Champions League Knockout Dates 2026/27
After the league phase, the competition moves into the knockout rounds.
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Knockout play-offs | February 16/17 & 23/24, 2027 |
| Round of 16 | March 9/10 & 16/17 |
| Quarter-finals | April 6/7 & 13/14 |
| Semi-finals | April 27/28 & May 4/5 |
| Final | June 5 |
What About Arsenal vs Real Madrid?
Arsenal cannot draw Real Madrid in the league-phase draw.
Both clubs are in Pot 1.
That means an Arsenal vs Real Madrid meeting would have to happen later in the competition, assuming both clubs qualify for the knockout stages.
The possibility of another Arsenal vs Real Madrid Champions League clash is therefore one that fans may have to wait for.
When Is the Europa League Draw?
The 2026/27 Europa League league-phase draw takes place on:
Friday, August 28, 2026
The ceremony begins at 13:00 CET.
That is 12:00 p.m. UK time and 12:00 p.m. Nigerian time.
Like the Champions League draw, it will be available live through UEFA’s official platforms.
The Europa League league phase begins on September 16, 2026.
Champions League Draw vs Europa League Draw
| Competition | Draw date | Start time |
|---|---|---|
| Champions League | August 27, 2026 | 18:00 CET |
| Europa League | August 28, 2026 | 13:00 CET |
| Conference League | August 28, 2026 | 13:00 CET |
How Many Teams Are in the Champions League?
There are 36 teams in the 2026/27 Champions League league phase.
They are divided into four pots containing nine teams each.
Every club will play eight matches against eight different opponents.
What Happens After the Champions League Draw?
The draw determines each club’s eight league-phase opponents.
However, fans will still have to wait for the individual fixture schedule.
UEFA says the complete list of match dates and kick-off times will be communicated no later than Saturday, August 29.
That means Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Aston Villa supporters will know their opponents first, followed shortly afterward by the exact dates and times of each match.
Champions League Draw 2026/27: Key Things to Know
- The draw takes place August 27, 2026.
- It starts at 18:00 CET.
- The draw is being held in Monaco.
- There are 36 clubs.
- There are four pots.
- Each club plays eight league-phase matches.
- There are no traditional four-team groups.
- The top eight qualify directly for the round of 16.
- Teams finishing ninth to 24th enter the knockout play-offs.
- Teams finishing 25th to 36th are eliminated.
- The full fixture list is due by August 29.
- The final is scheduled for June 5, 2027, in Madrid.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Champions League draw 2026/27?
The Champions League league-phase draw takes place Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 18:00 CET.
What time is the UCL draw?
The UCL draw starts at 18:00 CET, which is 5:00 p.m. in the UK and Nigeria.
Where can I watch the Champions League draw?
The draw is available live and free through UEFA.com, UEFA.tv and the Champions League app.
What channel is the Champions League draw on?
Rather than relying on a particular television channel, viewers can watch the draw through UEFA’s official live streams.
When are the Champions League fixtures announced?
UEFA says the full fixture list with dates and kick-off times will be communicated no later than Saturday, August 29.
Are there Champions League groups?
No. The competition uses a single 36-team league phase.
How many games does each Champions League team play?
Each team plays eight league-phase matches — four at home and four away.
When does the Champions League 2026/27 season start?
The league phase begins on September 8, 2026.
When is the Champions League final?
The 2027 final is scheduled for June 5, 2027, at Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano. (UEFA.com)
When is the Europa League draw?
The Europa League league-phase draw takes place on Friday, August 28, 2026, at 13:00 CET.
Final Thoughts
The 2026/27 Champions League draw is one of the biggest football events of the summer, particularly for supporters of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City are all in Pot 1, while Manchester United and Aston Villa are in Pot 2. Slavia Prague and LASK are among the clubs in Pot 4.
The traditional group stage is gone, replaced by a 36-team league phase in which every club plays eight different opponents.
For fans searching for Champions League draw live, Arsenal Champions League draw, Manchester United Champions League draw, UCL draw time, Champions League fixtures, where to watch the UCL draw and related terms, the key information is simple:
The draw is today, August 27, at 18:00 CET, and UEFA will stream it live for free.
The actual club fixtures will follow by August 29, before the league phase begins on September 8.
And with the road ultimately leading to the 2027 Champions League final in Madrid, the first major step toward European football’s biggest prize begins in Monaco.
