Overview
- The league‑phase draw is scheduled for Thursday, 27 August 2026 at 5pm BST (12pm ET) and will assign opponents for the 36‑team single‑table season.
- Pot 1 is confirmed and contains Paris Saint‑Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
- Seven remaining places will be filled by play‑off winners who complete qualifying on 25–26 August, meaning some pot placements remain technically fluid until those ties finish.
- Under the format teams play eight different opponents (two drawn from each pot), four home and four away, with the top eight advancing to the last 16, places 9–24 entering two‑legged play‑offs and 25–36 eliminated.
- Reports conflict on the draw venue (Grimaldi Forum in Monaco versus UEFA HQ in Nyon) and broadcasters will televise the event as UEFA and clubs prepare for added fixture and travel complexity once kick‑off times are published.