The Champions League 2026/27 league-phase draw takes place today in Monaco, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa among 36 clubs waiting to discover their eight opponents. Here is everything you need to know.
By Abiodun Adewale Adeniyi | Founder & Editor, Beyond the Final Whistle
August 27, 2026 | Champions League
The Champions League draw 2026/27 takes place today, and some of Europe’s biggest clubs are about to discover the path that could define their season.
UEFA has confirmed that the league-phase draw will begin at 18:00 CET (5:00 PM UK time) in Monaco, with 36 clubs divided into four pots of nine.
For Premier League supporters, there is plenty of interest.
Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa will all compete in this season’s Champions League.
But the expanded format means today’s draw works very differently from the traditional Champions League group-stage draw many supporters grew up watching.
How Does the Champions League 2026/27 Draw Work?
The 36 participating clubs have been divided into four pots containing nine teams each.
Each club will be drawn against eight different opponents — two from each pot.
They will play four matches at home and four away.
Clubs cannot face another team from their own domestic league during the league phase, and no club can be drawn against more than two teams from the same national association.
That means Arsenal cannot face Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool or Aston Villa at this stage.
But they could be handed several European heavyweights.
The league phase begins on September 8, while UEFA says the complete fixture list, including match dates and kick-off times, will be announced no later than Saturday, August 29.
Readers looking for the full competition calendar, format and qualification information can also see our guide to Champions League 2026/27: Teams, Format & Key Dates.
Who Has Qualified?
This year’s 36-team field contains virtually every European heavyweight supporters would expect.
Among them are Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Napoli.
England has five representatives:
Arsenal
Manchester City
Manchester United
Liverpool
Aston Villa
There are also some fascinating less-familiar participants, including Viking, Sabah, LASK and Slovan Bratislava. UEFA confirmed the final seven league-phase places through qualifying, which concluded on August 26.
See UEFA’s complete list of 36 Champions League teams
Arsenal Could Face Another Brutal European Test
Arsenal will attract particular attention after reaching last season’s Champions League final.
Their European progress demonstrated that Mikel Arteta’s side can compete with the continent’s elite, but today’s draw could immediately test that status again. UEFA lists Arsenal among the 36 confirmed participants.
And because teams face opponents from every pot, being highly ranked no longer guarantees an easy league-phase schedule.
Arsenal’s domestic ambitions will also have to be balanced against eight demanding European matches.
We have already examined whether Arteta’s team can sustain another title challenge in Can Arsenal Defend Their Premier League Title?.
The Champions League draw could make that challenge significantly more complicated.
Manchester City Enter Europe Under Enzo Maresca
Manchester City begin a very different European era.
Pep Guardiola is gone, Rodri has left, and Enzo Maresca is now responsible for rebuilding City while maintaining the standards established over the previous era. UEFA identifies Maresca as City’s new coach following Guardiola’s departure.
That makes today’s draw particularly significant.
City have already begun reconstructing their midfield, including the arrival of Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Europe will provide an immediate measure of how quickly Maresca’s new-look team is developing.
The Champions League doesn’t offer managers much time to experiment.
A difficult sequence of European opponents could quickly expose weaknesses that Premier League teams haven’t yet discovered.
Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa Return to the Big Stage
Manchester United’s return gives this season’s competition another major English storyline.
Liverpool are also back, now beginning a new chapter under Andoni Iraola, while Aston Villa enter the Champions League as Europa League holders.
Villa may be particularly dangerous.
Unai Emery’s European record is exceptional, and his ability to prepare teams for knockout football makes Villa one of the more intriguing English participants.
Five English clubs therefore enter today’s draw with very different expectations — but all five will believe they can make an impact.
The Blockbuster Matches Everyone Wants
The league-phase format increases the possibility of heavyweight clashes early in the competition.
Real Madrid remain European football’s benchmark.
Barcelona will arrive as Spanish champions.
Bayern Munich still have Harry Kane leading their attack.
Paris Saint-Germain remain one of Europe’s strongest sides, while Atlético Madrid, Inter and Napoli add further quality to an already formidable field.
Potential clashes between Europe’s elite are exactly what UEFA’s expanded format was designed to produce.
And today’s draw could give us several matches that would previously have been expected much later in the tournament.
Why Today’s Draw Matters
The Champions League league phase isn’t simply about qualifying.
Finishing position matters.
All 36 teams compete in one league table, with each playing eight matches.
That means the difficulty of a team’s eight opponents can significantly influence its path through the competition.
A favorable draw can create momentum.
A brutal one can turn September through January into a battle for survival.
For Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa, today’s draw therefore represents much more than discovering eight names.
It could shape their entire season.
Final Thoughts
The Champions League draw 2026/27 promises heavyweight clashes, difficult away trips and fascinating storylines across Europe.
Arsenal want another opportunity after going so close last season.
Manchester City are beginning again under Maresca.
Manchester United are back.
Liverpool have entered a new managerial era.
And Aston Villa have earned another opportunity to test themselves among Europe’s elite.
At 5:00 PM UK time today, we will finally discover who stands in their way.
And once the draw is completed, the real debate begins.
What Do You Think?
Which Champions League matchup do you most want to see this season?
And which of the five Premier League clubs will go furthest?
Share your predictions in the comments below.
