UCL Draw: Champions PSG Lead 36 Clubs Into Thursday’s Showdown
The wait is almost over as the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League draw takes centre stage on Thursday, with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain among 36 clubs preparing to discover their league-phase opponents.
PSG enter the new European campaign as back-to-back champions after successfully defending their Champions League crown last season. They will now begin the difficult task of becoming the first club since Real Madrid in 2018 to win the competition three times in a row.
The league-phase draw will take place in Monaco on Thursday, August 27, 2026, with the 36 qualified clubs divided into four seeding pots.
36 Clubs Ready for the Draw
The 2026/27 Champions League league phase features a mixture of Europe’s traditional giants, returning clubs and first-time participants.
Among the headline names are Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Atlético Madrid, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Napoli.
There will also be excitement surrounding newcomers Como, Sabah and Viking, while Fenerbahçe return to the competition after an 18-year absence. LASK are also back in Europe’s elite competition after 61 years.
The 36 teams
- AEK Athens
- Arsenal
- Aston Villa
- Atlético Madrid
- Barcelona
- Bayern Munich
- Bodø/Glimt
- Borussia Dortmund
- Club Brugge
- Como
- Fenerbahçe
- Feyenoord
- Galatasaray
- Inter Milan
- LASK
- RB Leipzig
- Lens
- Lille
- Liverpool
- Manchester City
- Manchester United
- Napoli
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Porto
- PSV Eindhoven
- Real Betis
- Real Madrid
- Roma
- Sabah
- Shakhtar Donetsk
- Slavia Prague
- Slovan Bratislava
- Sporting CP
- Stuttgart
- Viking
- Villarreal
UEFA has confirmed the complete list of 36 league-phase contenders.
How the New Champions League Draw Works
The traditional group stage is no longer used. Instead, all 36 clubs will compete in a single league phase.
Each team will play eight matches against eight different opponents — four at home and four away.
The clubs are divided into four pots based primarily on UEFA coefficient rankings. Each team will be drawn against two clubs from each pot, subject to UEFA’s restrictions on opponents from the same country.
This format means some huge fixtures could be created before the knockout stages even begin.
PSG Face the Challenge of Defending Their Crown
All eyes will naturally be on Paris Saint-Germain.
The French champions have established themselves as Europe’s dominant force after winning the Champions League for a second consecutive season. Their latest success came in the 2025/26 final in Budapest on May 30, 2026.
Their presence at the top of the draw will make PSG one of the clubs everyone else wants to avoid.
However, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City and Atlético Madrid will all believe they have the quality to challenge the French champions.
Premier League Giants Await Their Fate
England has a strong representation in this season’s competition, with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United all involved.
Manchester United’s return is particularly significant. The club missed the previous Champions League campaign but are back among Europe’s elite for 2026/27.
Arsenal, meanwhile, will be hoping to make another deep run after competing among Europe’s strongest sides in recent seasons.
When Does the Champions League League Phase Begin?
The league phase of the 2026/27 Champions League is scheduled to begin on September 8, 2026.
The draw will therefore provide clubs and supporters with their first real picture of the European road ahead.
With 36 teams, eight matches per club and some of the biggest names in world football involved, Thursday’s draw promises to set the tone for another fascinating Champions League campaign.
Final Word
The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League draw is more than a ceremony. It is the moment Europe’s biggest clubs discover the opponents standing between them and the ultimate prize.
Defending champions PSG will enter as the team everyone wants to beat, but Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and the rest of Europe’s elite will have their own ambitions.
The road to the 2027 Champions League final begins in Monaco on Thursday.
