As the 2025 26 UEFA Champions League phase comes to a thrilling close, all eyes now turn to one of the most exciting events on the European football calendar, the Knockout Phase Play Off Draw. This draw will decide who will fight for the last positions in the Round of 16, the entry point to glory in the premier club competition of Europe.
We are taking you through everything you need to know: the date and time of the draw, how the format works, which teams are involved, and what happens next on the road to the final in Budapest in May 2026.
When and Where Is the Play Off Draw?
One of the biggest questions for fans is when and where the Knockout Phase Play-off Draw will take place.
- Date: Friday, 30 January 2026.
- Time: 12:00 CET Central European Time.
- Location: UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
- How to Watch: The program will be streamed live on UEFA’s official platforms.
This draw marks the end of the league stage, where the teams fight 8 matches over 8 matchdays, and the knockout stage, where each game is a do-or-die affair.
Understanding the New Format
The 2025-26 season is followed by a re-branded version of the most prestigious club competition in Europe, organized by UEFA.
The Champions League has a league phase of 36 teams rather than a traditional group stage of 8 groups of 4 teams. Every club faces eight matches with various opponents, including home and away games.
The winning 8 teams during this league stage are automatically qualified for the Round of 16. The 9th- to 24th-ranked teams proceed to the knockout phase. Any team that competes at positions 25th to 36th is kicked out of the competition.
This format provides clubs with additional competitive games and compensates for the lack of consistency during the first half of the season, without sacrificing the excitement of traditional knockout football.
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Which Teams Are in the Play-Off Draw?
The Knockout Phase Play Off Draw will involve 16 teams. These are the sides that placed 9th to 24th in the league.
Seeded Teams
The seeded teams are those that finished 9th to 16th in the league phase. These clubs will be pitched against the unseeded teams and usually play the second leg at home. Even seeded teams are feeling the heat. Real Madrid even fired their coach, Xabi Alonso, because of poor performances.
- Real Madrid
- Inter Milan
- Paris Saint Germain
- Newcastle United
- Juventus
- Atletico Madrid
- Atalanta
- Bayer Leverkusen
Unseeded Teams
Unseeded teams are those that finished 17th to 24th in the league phase. These clubs will confront the seeded clubs and compete to secure a spot in the Round of 16.
- Borussia Dortmund
- Olympiacos
- Club Brugge
- Galatasaray
- AS Monaco
- Qarabag
- Bodo Glimt
- Benfica
Such a combination of giants and underdogs gives an unpredictable and compelling spectacle, with big names possibly struggling through the first hurdle of the knockouts with a genuine test of strength.
How the Knockout Play-Offs Work?
After the draw, the knockout phase play-offs are played over two legs to create maximum drama and tactical planning.
- The first legs will be on 17 and 18 February 2026.
- The second legs will be on 24 and 25 February 2026.
The second leg will be hosted by the seeded teams, which could give them an advantage, as draws are usually determined by the performances of the home teams in the second leg. The eight winners of such ties will enter the top eight league phase teams of the Round of 16 to form a complete roster of the best of Europe as the competition progresses.
The fact that teams of the same country can play against each other is one of the most exciting things about this draw. This leaves the possibility of domestic rivalries re-emerging on the European front, which produces an extra element of surprise and suspense.
Clubs Already Qualified for the Round of 16
Following a demanding league stage, the eight best clubs have been directly qualified to the Round of 16 and eliminated from the knockout play-offs. These teams were consistent throughout the season and await the victors of the play-off matches to determine who they will play next in the next phase of the Champions League.
- Arsenal (Leader of the English league)
- Bayern Munchen (German champions)
- Liverpool (Premier League performers)
- Barcelona (Spanish giants)
- Chelsea (Strong league finish)
- Manchester City (Regular high performers)
- Sporting CP (Portuguese champions)
- Tottenham Hotspur (Winners Europa League)
Play‑Off Rules and Bracket Explained
| Competition Route | Seeded Position | Unseeded Position | Typical Match Up |
| Path 1 | 9th or 10th | 23rd or 24th | Highest seed vs lowest unseeded |
| Path 2 | 11th or 12th | 21st or 22nd | Next highest seed vs unseeded |
| Path 3 | 13th or 14th | 19th or 20th | Mid-range seed vs mid unseeded |
| Path 4 | 15th or 16th | 17th or 18th | Lowest-seeded vs highest unseeded |
After the league stage is complete, a 9th-16th placed team turns into a seed and a 17th-24th placed team turns into an unseeded. The seeded teams are matched against the unseeded teams; eight two-legged ties are hosted in February. The unseeded hosting will be on the first legs, played on 17 and 18 February 2026, and the seeded hosting on the second legs, played on 24 and 25 February 2026. Teams advance to the next phase with an aggregate-goal victory across the two matches. In the event of a draw at the end of the second leg, extra time is followed by penalties to determine the victor, as the away goals rule is eliminated.
The ties are organized by league ranking rather than a fully open random draw, meaning higher-ranked seeded teams should play lower-ranked unseeded teams. No rule eliminates the possibility of teams within the same country playing each other at this point, and it can lead to some dramatic domestic rivalries at the very beginning of the knockouts.
The Road to the Champions League Final
The knockout play-offs are just the initial step towards the Champions League final. After the eight winners are established, the Round of 16 begins with high-stakes matches, followed by the quarterfinals and semifinals.
- The 1st legs of the Round of 16 will be played on 10 and 11 March 2026, and the second legs on 17 and 18 March 2026.
- The first legs of the quarter finals will be played on 7 and 8 April 2026, and the second legs will be played on 14 and 15 April 2026.
- The semi-finals will be on 28 and 29 April 2026, with the return legs on 5 and 6 May 2026.
The final will be held on Saturday, 30 May 2026, at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary. To most clubs, the play-offs may be the main highlight of their European campaign.
Why This New Format Could Change European Football Forever?
The 36-team league stage and the early inclusion of knockout play-offs have brought an extra element of excitement to the Champions League. There are actual outcomes of every match now, and even minor errors can be expensive. Having fewer meaningless games and more pressure at the beginning, teams have to remain sharp during the competition.
For fans, this format offers more high-stakes games and season-long unpredictability. Large clubs can no longer comfortably slide into the knockouts, and weaker teams are given greater opportunities to take on the established giants. Tactical decisions have never been as crucial as they are now, as managers are forced to be both consistent and reactive to the demands of knockout football.
The play-off draw itself has become a defining moment instead of a routine step. Potential big games and domestic clashes in the early stages add to the excitement, and after PSG’s unexpected win in the 2024/25 Champions League, the Knockout Phase Play-Off Draw promises a season of drama, tension, and memorable moments.
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