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UEFA Champions League 2026/27 Playoff Draw and Match Schedule

The final phase of qualifying for next season's UEFA Champions League is set. Fourteen clubs have advanced to the playoff round, battling for a spot in the 2026/27 league stage. The last few participants will emerge from the third qualifying round matches happening in early August.

These playoffs involve two-legged ties scheduled for August, leading up to the league phase draw on August 27.

Playoff Draw Details

The draw took place on August 3 at UEFA's Nyon headquarters in Switzerland. Fourteen teams are competing: ten from the champions path and four from the league path. The champions path includes domestic league winners, while the league path involves clubs qualifying via their league positions in countries with multiple Champions League spots.

Ten playoff entrants are still undecided, as they will be determined by matches occurring during the weeks beginning August 3 and August 10.

Matchups for the 2026/27 Playoffs

  • Levski Sofia (BUL) or Kairat Almaty (KAZ) vs. AEK Athens (GRE)
  • Celtic (SCO) vs. LASK (AUT)
  • GNK Dinamo (CRO) or Zalgiris (LIT) vs. Viking (NOR)
  • Mjallby (SWE) or Slovan Bratislava (SVK) vs. Ararat-Armenia (ARM) or Celje (SVN)
  • Hapoel Be'er-Sheva (ISR) or Red Star Belgrade (SRB) vs. Aarhus (DEN) or Sabah (AZE)
  • Fenerbahce (TUR) or Sturm Graz (AUT) vs. Sparta Prague (CZE) or Lyon (FRA)
  • Olympiacos (GRE) or NEC (NED) vs. Union SG (BEL) or Bodo/Glimt (NOR)

Playoff Match Schedule

  • First legs: August 18 and 19
  • Second legs: August 25 and 26

The second leg happens just a day before the league phase draw on August 27, which will be held in Monaco, starting around noon CET (6 a.m. ET).

Europa League Entry for Eliminated Teams

Teams losing at this playoff stage will automatically move into the Europa League group stage. This represents the final chance for teams to drop into the Europa League through Champions League qualification. After the league phase starts, no further teams eliminated from the Champions League will transfer to the Europa League.

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