Champions League Play-Off Draw: Everything You Need to Know
The League Phase of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League concludes tonight, setting the stage for the highly anticipated knockout phase play-off draw. This crucial event will determine the next 16 teams entering the competition's play-offs, with the top eight sides from the league phase earning a valuable bye directly into the last 16. That rest period, in an increasingly congested football calendar, could prove instrumental in the pursuit of European glory.
When is the Champions League Knockout Phase Play-Off Draw?
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw is scheduled to commence at 11am GMT on Friday, 30 January 2026. The ceremony will be held in Nyon, Switzerland, UEFA's headquarters. This draw specifically involves teams that finished between ninth and twenty-fourth place in the league phase, while the top eight sides automatically qualify for the last 16, bypassing this round entirely.
Which Teams Are in the Champions League Play-Off Draw?
A total of 16 teams will participate, with the final lineup to be confirmed on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, following the last round of league phase fixtures. Arsenal and Bayern Munich have already secured their places in the last 16. Meanwhile, several Premier League clubs are in a tense battle for automatic qualification or a play-off berth.
Liverpool (fourth), Tottenham Hotspur (fifth), Newcastle United (seventh), and Chelsea (eighth) currently occupy positions that would grant them direct entry to the last 16. In contrast, Manchester City (eleventh) must rely on favourable results elsewhere to climb into the top eight and avoid the play-offs.
Other notable European giants hoping to secure a top-eight finish after the final matchday include:
- Barcelona
- Atlético Madrid
- Inter Milan
- Juventus
- Borussia Dortmund
Teams already eliminated from contention are Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal, and Kairat Almaty.
How Can I Watch the Champions League Draw Live?
Fans can follow the draw live through multiple channels. UEFA's official website and the Champions League app will provide a live stream of the event. Additionally, Independent Sport will host a live blog offering real-time updates, results from the draw, and immediate reaction and analysis.
How Will the Champions League Play-Off Draw Work?
The draw employs a seeded pairing system based on league phase standings:
- Seeded Pairs: Positions 9 & 10, 11 & 12, 13 & 14, and 15 & 16.
- Unseeded Pairs: Positions 17 & 18, 19 & 20, 21 & 22, and 23 & 24.
Clubs within each seeded pair will be drawn against an unseeded pair, following this specific bracket structure:
- Clubs 9 or 10 vs. Clubs 23 or 24
- Clubs 11 or 12 vs. Clubs 21 or 22
- Clubs 13 or 14 vs. Clubs 19 or 20
- Clubs 15 or 16 vs. Clubs 17 or 18
Notably, there are no restrictions preventing teams from the same national association or those that have already faced each other in the league phase from being drawn together in the play-offs.
When Will the Knockout Phase Play-Off Ties Take Place?
The play-off matches will be contested over two legs. The seeded team, as determined by their higher league phase finish, is scheduled to play the return leg at home.
- First Legs: 17-18 February 2026
- Second Legs: 24-25 February 2026
Looking Ahead: The Round of 16 Draw
The eight victorious teams from the knockout phase play-offs will advance to the round of 16. The draw for this subsequent stage is set for Friday, 27 February 2026, where they will be joined by the eight sides that received a bye from the league phase.
This new format adds an extra layer of drama and competition, as seen last season when Paris Saint-Germain navigated the play-offs successfully against Brest before embarking on a memorable run to the final, where they defeated Inter Milan to claim the trophy. It demonstrates that the play-off route, while demanding, is no barrier to ultimate success in Europe's premier club competition.
