When is Champions League draw? Manchester United face club first in new European campaign

The new Champions League campaign is already getting close as Europe’s elite await the league phase draw.

Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal on penalties at the end of May to become back-to-back winners of the elite competition.

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The 2025/26 final doesn’t feel very long ago at all, but eyes are already moving on to the new season of action across Europe.

In fact, the new Champions League campaign has actually already started, with the qualifying rounds getting going in early July.

They will continue into August to decide the clubs that make it through to the full competition before the main draw.

Premier League champions Arsenal are going to be aiming to go one better this year, while Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa will all be back in action in UEFA‘s elite competition again too.

Manchester United have also returned to the Champions League for the first time since the 2023/24 campaign.

It will be Man United’s debut in the competition’s new format, as they will be part of the league phase for the first time since its introduction by UEFA two seasons ago.

When is the Champions League draw?

The Champions League league phase draw will be held on Thursday, August 27 at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

A start time for the draw is yet to be confirmed but will likely be 11am UK time.

The draw will include the 36 qualified clubs, with each team finding out their eight opponents for the league phase.

Each side will play four home games and four away games.

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How to follow Champions League draw

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The Champions League league phase draw is likely to be shown live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, as well as on UEFA TV.

Pots for Champions League draw

Pot 1

• Paris Saint-Germain
• Bayern Munich
• Real Madrid
• Liverpool
• Inter Milan
• Manchester City
• Arsenal
• Barcelona
• Atletico Madrid

Pot 2

• Borussia Dortmund
• Roma
• Sporting CP
• Aston Villa
• Porto
• Manchester United
• Club Brugge
• Real Betis
• PSV Eindhoven

Pot 3

• Feyenoord
• Lille
• Napoli
• RB Leipzig
• Villarreal
• Shakhtar Donetsk
• Galatasaray

Pot 4

• Como
• Lens

Pot TBC

• Slavia Prague
• VfB Stuttgart

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Champions League 26/27: Fixture dates

The dates for the 2026/27 campaign have already been confirmed.

The Champions League league phase is scheduled to start on September 8 and run through until January 27, 2027.

• Matchday 1: 8/10 September 2026
• Matchday 2: 13/14 October 2026
• Matchday 3: 20/21 October 2026
• Matchday 4: 3/4 November 2026
• Matchday 5: 24/25 November 2026
• Matchday 6: 8/9 December 2026
• Matchday 7: 19/20 January 2027
• Matchday 8: 27 January 2027

Dates for the knockout stages have also already been scheduled.

The Champions League final will be played on June 5, 2027.

• Knockout phase play-offs: 16/17 & 23/24 February 2027
• Round of 16: 9/10 & 16/17 March 2027
• Quarter-finals: 6/7 & 13/14 April 2027
• Semi-finals: 27/28 April & 4/5 May 2027
• Final: 5 June 2027