UEFA Champions League Draw in Monaco Sets Stage for 2026/27 Season with New Format

The UEFA Champions League is preparing for the draw of the league stage for the 2026/27 season, scheduled for Thursday, August 27, in Monaco. This season marks the 72nd edition of the tournament and the third under the revamped format, which replaces the traditional group stage with a single league table featuring 36 teams.

A total of 29 clubs have qualified directly for the league stage, joined by seven teams advancing from the playoff rounds. Paris Saint-Germain enters as the reigning European champion, having won the title for the second consecutive time. Other European giants such as Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City will also participate.

The season also features notable underdog stories. Sabah from Azerbaijan reached the league stage for the first time in their history after a dramatic comeback against Hapoel Be'er Sheva, winning 5-2 after extra time and 6-4 on aggregate. Austrian club LASK also secured their debut appearance by overturning a 3-0 deficit against Celtic to win 5-1 after extra time.

Before the draw, the final four playoff ties will conclude, including Lyon vs. Fenerbahçe, AEK Athens vs. Levski Sofia, Viking vs. Dinamo Zagreb, and Celje vs. Slovan Bratislava. Under the new format, each team will face eight different opponents, playing four matches at home and four away. The top eight teams in the league table will advance directly to the round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th will enter a knockout playoff. Teams finishing 25th or lower will be eliminated from European competition.

Following a summer of qualifiers and dramatic matches, the draw in Monaco will reveal the opening fixtures and set the path toward the final, scheduled for June 5, 2027, at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.