The date is set. The draw for the group stage of the 2026-2027 Champions League will take place on Thursday, August 27, starting at 18 p.m. The 36 participating teams will discover their eight opponents for the first part of the competition. Until then, the final qualifying rounds will determine the full lineup. Once the 36 qualified teams are determined, all eyes will be on the draw that will shape their European journey.
Eight different opponents for each club
Since the Champions League reform, the old group stage has been replaced by a single league phase featuring 36 teams. Each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents: four at home and four away. Therefore, not all clubs play each other, but their results contribute to a single overall ranking. The draw on August 27 will determine the eight opponents for each of the 36 teams. The clubs will thus know the difficulty of their upcoming schedule even before the competition begins.
Four hats to organize the draw
The 36 participants are divided into four pots of nine teams based on their UEFA coefficient, with the exception of the defending champions, who are automatically placed in Pot 1. Each team must play two clubs from each of the four pots, with one home and one away match per game. This system notably allows the higher-ranked teams to also face two teams from Pot 1. The draw is based on an automated procedure: one team is drawn first, then the system determines its eight opponents while respecting the various constraints set by UEFA.
The full schedule will be established after the draw.
Following the draw, UEFA must establish the detailed schedule for the group stage, determining the dates and distribution of the matches. The competition will begin in September and will consist of eight matchdays. Each result will count towards the overall standings of the 36 participating teams. At the end of this stage, the top eight teams will qualify directly for the round of 16. Teams finishing 9th through 24th will have to compete in the play-off round. All teams finishing 25th or lower will be eliminated.
PSG among the clubs most anticipated
On the French side, Paris Saint-Germain will obviously be one of the clubs closely watched during the draw. The reigning two-time European champions will discover their eight opponents for this new continental campaign. The draw will be broadcast live in France on Canal+. Just a few weeks before kickoff, the outline of the 2026-2027 Champions League will then be definitively set.
