The UEFA Champions League draw for the league phase takes place this week, with this stage of the competition a lot of fun as teams will find out who they are playing and when.
It’s fair to say the new format for the league phase has been a huge hit and has breathed new life into this group stage of the Champions League.
MORE — Premier League schedule
Five Premier League teams are in the Champions League this season, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Liverpool representing England’s top-flight and they’re all in the league phase automatically.
Below are all the details you need to know about the Champions League draw.
How does the UEFA Champions League league phase work?
Thirty-six teams will compete in the league phase, with each team playing eight games (four home and four away).
The top eight teams in the table will receive a bye straight to the last 16 as seeded teams.
Teams who finish in spots 9-28 will square off in a two-legged play-off round, with eight winners advancing to the last 16 as unseeded teams.
The eight teams who finish in 29-36 place in the table will be eliminated from the competition and all European competitions for the season.
Which teams have qualified for the UEFA Champions League league phase?
Below is a list of the 36 teams who have qualified for the Champions League league phase this season.
England: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool
Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis
Germany: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, VfB Stuttgart
Italy: Inter Milan, Napoli, Roma, Como
France: Paris Saint-Germain, Lens, Lille
Portugal: FC Porto, Sporting Lisbon
Netherlands: PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord
Belgium: Club Brugge
Turkiye: Galatasaray, Fenerbahce
Czechia: Slavia Prague
Ukraine: Shakhtar Donetsk
Norway: Bodo/Glimt, Viking
Slovakia: Slovan Bratislava
Greece: AEK Athens
Austria: LASK Linz
Azerbaijan: Sabah
Which teams are in the four UEFA Champions League pots?
Pot 1: PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Man City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid
Pot 2: Borussia Dortmund, AS Roma, Sporting Lisbon, Aston Villa, Porto, Manchester United, Club Brugge, Real Betis, PSV Eindhoven
Pot 3: Feyenoord, Lille, Bodo/Glimt, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Fenerbahce, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray
Pot 4: Slavia Prague, Slovan Bratislava, Stuttgart, AEK Athens, LASK Linz, Como, Lens, Viking, Sabah
Draw pots for the 2026/27 league phase 🧐#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/ikJwPmY886
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 27, 2026
When is the UEFA Champions League league phase draw?
The draw will take place from 12pm ET on Thursday, August 27.
How to watch the UEFA Champions League league phase draw live
You can watch the draw for the UEFA Champions League league phase live on UEFA’s website, here.
