Manchester United will learn their eight Champions League league-phase opponents in today's draw, which takes place at 5pm BST. The club returns to Europe's top competition after a two-year absence, and this will be their first experience of the new league format introduced by UEFA.
United in Pot 2 for the draw
The previous group stage, which featured eight groups of four teams, has been replaced by a single league phase. United will be familiar with the structure after competing in the 2024/25 Europa League under the same system. All 36 teams are divided into four pots, with each club drawn against two opponents from each pot. They will face eight different teams, playing four matches at home and four away.
Much of the draw will be automated due to the large number of fixtures to be organised. Play-off ties on Tuesday and Wednesday will determine the remaining qualifiers, completing the pots before manager Michael Carrick learns which teams will visit Old Trafford and which European trips await his side.
Who United can face
Manchester United are placed in Pot 2, with their current coefficient ranking them 25th in UEFA's European team standings. The draw will produce eight opponents for every club, two from each pot, meaning United will play two of the top-ranked teams from Pot 1.
United cannot face clubs from their own country — Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa or Manchester City — at this stage, and can only be drawn against a maximum of two teams from any other single association.
Pot 1: Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid
Pot 2: Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Sporting CP, Porto, Club Brugge, Real Betis, PSV Eindhoven
Pot 3: Feyenoord, Lille, Bodo/Glimt, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Fenerbahce, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray
Pot 4: Slavia Prague, Slovan Bratislava, Stuttgart, AEK Athens, LASK, Como, Lens, Viking, Sabah
Dream and nightmare scenarios
In a favourable draw, United could face Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Porto, Club Brugge, Bodo/Glimt, Shakhtar Donetsk, Slovan Bratislava and AEK Athens.
A nightmare scenario would see them drawn against Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Napoli, Fenerbahce, Stuttgart and Sabah. A reunion with Jose Mourinho is also possible, with the former United manager now in charge of Fenerbahce.
League phase matchdays
UEFA will confirm the exact kick-off times and match dates for each week of the league phase. The eight matchdays are scheduled as follows:
- Matchday 1: September 8-10, 2026
- Matchday 2: October 13/14, 2026
- Matchday 3: October 20/21, 2026
- Matchday 4: November 3/4, 2026
- Matchday 5: November 24/25, 2026
- Matchday 6: December 8/9, 2026
- Matchday 7: January 19/20, 2026
- Matchday 8: January 27, 2026
