Champions League Knockout Phase: Play-Off Draw Details and Team Guide
The UEFA Champions League enters its decisive knockout phase, with the play-off draw scheduled for Friday, 30 January 2026. This crucial stage determines which teams will advance to the last 16, setting the scene for the latter rounds of Europe's premier club competition.
Draw Time and How to Watch Live
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw will commence at 11am GMT on Friday, 30 January. The event will be held in Nyon, Switzerland, UEFA's headquarters. Fans can follow the proceedings live through multiple channels:
- Official Streams: The draw will be broadcast live on UEFA's official website and the Champions League mobile application.
- Live Coverage: Independent Sport will provide a live blog with real-time updates, results, and expert reaction as the draw unfolds.
Teams Competing in the Play-Off Draw
A total of 16 teams have qualified for the play-off draw, having finished between ninth and 24th place in the league phase. The top eight sides, including Premier League clubs Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester City, have already secured automatic progression to the last 16 and will await their opponents.
The play-off contenders include some of European football's most illustrious names. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain must navigate this stage once more, having done so successfully last season. Record competition winners Real Madrid also feature, alongside Premier League representatives Newcastle United.
The seeded teams, based on their league phase positions, are:
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- Inter Milan (Italy)
- Paris St. Germain (France)
- Newcastle United (England)
- Juventus (Italy)
- Atletico Madrid (Spain)
- Atalanta (Italy)
- Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
The unseeded teams are:
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
- Olympiacos (Greece)
- Club Brugge (Belgium)
- Galatasaray (Turkey)
- AS Monaco (France)
- Qarabag (Azerbaijan)
- Bodo/Glimt (Norway)
- Benfica (Portugal)
How the Play-Off Draw Works
The draw mechanism pairs clubs according to their league phase standings. Four seeded pairs are formed: positions 9 and 10, 11 and 12, 13 and 14, and 15 and 16. Similarly, four unseeded pairs are created from positions 17 and 18, 19 and 20, 21 and 22, and 23 and 24.
Each seeded pair will be drawn against an unseeded pair, with the following specific match-ups:
- Clubs 9 or 10 will face clubs 23 or 24
- Clubs 11 or 12 will face clubs 21 or 22
- Clubs 13 or 14 will face clubs 19 or 20
- Clubs 15 or 16 will face clubs 17 or 18
Notably, teams from the same national association or those that have already met in the league phase can be drawn against each other in the play-offs, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the proceedings.
Play-Off Schedule and Round of 16 Outlook
The play-off ties will be contested over two legs, with the seeded team hosting the return match. The first legs are scheduled for 17-18 February, followed by the second legs on 24-25 February.
The eight victorious teams will then progress to the round of 16 draw, which is set for Friday, 27 February. This will determine the match-ups for the next phase of the competition.
Potential round of 16 fixtures have already been mapped out based on the play-off outcomes:
- Monaco or Qarabag v PSG or Newcastle (will play Barcelona or Chelsea)
- Club Brugge or Galatasaray v Juventus or Atletico Madrid (will play Liverpool or Tottenham)
- Bodo/Glimt or Benfica v Real Madrid or Inter Milan (will play Sporting or Manchester City)
- Borussia Dortmund or Olympiakos v Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen (will play Arsenal or Bayern Munich)
This play-off stage represents a significant hurdle for the competing teams, with dreams of Champions League glory hanging in the balance. The draw will set the course for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the 2025/26 campaign.
