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2026/27 UEFA Champions League Draw: How the Pots Are Set

The league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League will feature 36 teams, sorted into four pots with nine clubs each. UEFA will confirm the final pot arrangements before the draw on August 27.

So far, 29 teams have secured their spots in the league phase. The last seven places will be decided by the Champions League play-offs, whose second legs are scheduled for August 25 and 26.

Determining the Pots

The division of clubs into pots follows UEFA’s 2026/27 competition rules. These assign teams based on club coefficient rankings at the season's start. One exception is the reigning Champions League winner, who automatically takes the top seed in Pot 1.

With many teams already qualified, the provisional pots stand as:

  • Pot 1: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Arsenal, Barcelona, Atlético 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: Slavia Prague, Stuttgart, Como, Lens

The Mechanics of the Draw

Being in Pot 1 does not shield a club from facing other strong opponents. Each team will face eight different opponents during the league phase: two from each pot, including its own. Matches will be split evenly between home and away games.

For example, a club in Pot 1 will meet two other Pot 1 teams, plus two from each of Pots 2, 3, and 4.

Generally, teams from the same national association won’t be drawn against each other, although a club can face up to two teams from another single association.

Key Dates and Timeline

The draw will happen in Monaco on Thursday, August 27 at 18:00 CET. At that point, the full list of 36 clubs will be set following the play-offs on August 25 and 26.

The league phase starts on September 8 and runs through January 27, 2027. Each club plays eight matches total, four at home and four away.

Any lists of the pots circulating before UEFA’s official announcement should be viewed as tentative.

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