UEFA sets out Champions League 2026/27 league phase draw and format

Published: 26 August 2026 · 19:55 GST

UEFA has published its official guide to the Champions League 2026/27 league phase draw, setting out how the new format works and when the main draw will take place.

According to UEFA, the competition will again use a league phase rather than the old group stage. The governing body’s guide says the draw will determine each club’s schedule in the league phase once the qualified teams are known, with fixtures arranged across the opening matches of the season’s main competition phase.

UEFA also confirms that the 2026/27 edition will follow the format introduced for the current era of the tournament. Each team is drawn into a single league table, and the draw procedure is designed to allocate opponents and home-and-away matches across the league phase. The official guide explains the process and the key dates for the draw and the start of the league phase.

The body’s published overview lists the teams, dates, draws, format and final for the 2026/27 campaign, giving clubs and supporters a single reference point for the season. UEFA says the league phase draw is one of several draws connected to its club competitions, including the Europa League and Conference League league phase draws.

For readers following the competition in the Gulf, the official UEFA guide is the clearest reference for the timing and structure of the 2026/27 Champions League draw. UEFA’s announcement covers the route into the league phase, the draw format and the competition calendar in one place.

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