UEFA Champions League 2025/26: Preview of the First 36-Team League-Phase Draw

Monaco — August 28, 2025 — European football enters a new era as the UEFA Champions League prepares for its first 36-team league-phase draw. This landmark event will determine the matchups for the newly expanded format, which replaces the traditional 32-team group stage with a single-league structure designed to increase competitiveness and showcase more high-profile fixtures.

New Format, New Excitement

The revamped format introduces a 36-team single league. Each club will play eight matches — four at home and four away — against teams drawn from four seeded pots. This ensures that clubs face a wider variety of opponents while limiting the number of matches against teams from the same domestic league.

• Top 8 teams after the league phase will progress directly to the knockout round of 16.

• Teams ranked 9th to 24th will enter a playoff round to earn the remaining 8 spots in the round of 16.

• The competition will then continue in the traditional knockout format, culminating in the final on May 30, 2026, at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary.

Clubs to Watch

Real Madrid enters as defending champions, aiming to maintain their European dominance. Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and Arsenal are among the top-seeded teams expected to contend for the title.

Meanwhile, clubs from smaller leagues — including the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, and Eastern Europe — could play spoiler as the new format allows for more varied matchups, offering opportunities for unexpected results.

Anticipation and Stakes

The league-phase draw is scheduled for today, August 28, 2025, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, kicking off at 18:00 CEST (5:00 PM UK time). Fans, analysts, and clubs are eagerly awaiting the outcomes, which will define potential “groups of death” and favorable paths for underdog teams.

With financial stakes high, competitive balance redefined, and unprecedented opportunities for lower-ranked clubs, the first 36-team draw is a historic moment for Europe’s premier club competition.