ucl draw | India | UCL 2025/26: draw dates & how to watch

What happened

The UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league-phase draw was held on Thursday 28 August 2025 at 17:00 UK time. A 36-team league phase was finalised after several clubs advanced from qualifying rounds.

Among the sides that progressed through qualifying were Qarabag, Copenhagen, Club Brugge, Benfica, Pafos, Bodo/Glimt and Kairat Almaty, joining 29 other clubs to complete the league-phase field. Paris Saint-Germain enter the campaign as title holders.

Key details

The new-look 36-team league phase means a longer group-style stage before the return of knockout play-offs. The schedule across the winter and spring months maps out each knockout round with specific first- and second-leg dates.

• Knockout play-offs: first legs 17–18 Feb 2026; second legs 24–25 Feb 2026.
• Round of 16: first legs 10–11 Mar 2026; second legs 17–18 Mar 2026.
• Quarter-finals: first legs 7–8 Apr 2026; second legs 14–15 Apr 2026.
• Semi-finals: first legs 28–29 Apr 2026; second legs 5–6 May 2026.
• Final: 30 May 2026, Puskas Arena, Budapest.

Paris Saint-Germain are aiming to defend the trophy they secured last season. Traditional heavyweights including Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are all present and set to contest the extended league phase.

Background

UEFA expanded the Champions League format to a 36-team league phase in the latest cycle, changing how teams qualify and how the early season schedule is structured. The play-off round between certain finishing positions reappeared as part of the competition's revised knockout pathway.

Last season’s rewritten format climaxed with PSG lifting the trophy, a result that reshaped expectations heading into 2025/26. Several clubs that moved through earlier qualifying rounds, including representatives from smaller leagues, will bring extra variety to the league-phase fixtures.

Reactions

Broadly, supporters and broadcasters welcomed the clarity of the fixed draw date and the packed calendar of big-match windows. Fans of the promoted qualifying sides celebrated progress into the main draw, while elite clubs are preparing for a long campaign across domestic and European commitments.

TNT Sports has outlined multi-platform viewing plans to ensure build-up programming and live coverage are available on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with discovery+ integration for subscribers and partner platforms handling wider distribution.

Analysis

The 36-team league phase increases the number of meaningful fixtures for many clubs and reduces the number of traditional groups. That change elevates the value of each matchday and arguably rewards consistency over a longer run of games.

For broadcasters, the format offers more marquee matchups to schedule. For clubs, deeper squads and rotation strategies will be essential as domestic cup and league obligations overlap with European fixtures from late autumn through spring.

Timeline

Key dates at a glance: the league-phase draw took place on 28 August 2025. Knockout play-off first legs are in mid-February 2026 and the final is scheduled for 30 May 2026 in Budapest.

1. 28 Aug 2025 — League-phase draw (36 teams finalised).
2. 17–18 Feb 2026 — Knockout play-off first legs.
3. 24–25 Feb 2026 — Knockout play-off second legs.
4. 10–11 Mar 2026 & 17–18 Mar 2026 — Round of 16 legs.
5. 7–15 Apr 2026 — Quarter-final legs across two weeks.
6. 28 Apr–6 May 2026 — Semi-final legs across two weeks.
7. 30 May 2026 — Final at Puskas Arena, Budapest.

What’s next

Fans should check fixtures arising from the league-phase draw and note travel and ticket timelines for key knockout dates. Clubs qualifying from the league phase will need to manage player workloads as the calendar tightens in February and March.

If you plan to watch live, confirm your access to TNT Sports or discovery+ early and verify whether your subscription (or platform partner such as Prime Video) covers the fixtures you want to view.