Football fans will not have to wait much longer to find out who their teams will face in the new season of European competition. The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League draw will be held at Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum on Thursday, 28 August at 18:00 CET, following the same format used last year.

Key Details of the Champions League Draw:

• 36 teams divided into four pots based on UEFA coefficient rankings

• Pot 1 will include the titleholders as top seeds

• Each team is drawn against eight opponents (two from each pot)

• No matches between teams from the same country

• Maximum of two opponents from the same association

• Fixture list with match dates and times released by Saturday, 30 August

Unlike the traditional group-stage format, the league phase ensures every team faces a mix of strong and mid-ranked opponents, with balance across home and away matches.

Europa League and Conference League Draws

This season brings a notable change for the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League. Their draws will be merged into one joint event for the first time, also hosted at the Grimaldi Forum. The combined ceremony will take place on Friday, 29 August at 13:00 CET.

What’s Different?

• Both draws conducted digitally with no physical balls

• A single draw button press will instantly generate all pairings

• Opponents and fixtures revealed pot by pot to keep suspense

• Match calendars confirmed by Sunday, 31 August

The system used for all three competitions is provided by AE Live, which has already undergone over a million test simulations. Ernst & Young will oversee the process to ensure fairness and transparency.

Fans can watch every draw live and free on UEFA.com.

In Summary:

• Champions League Draw: 28 August, 18:00 CET

• Europa & Conference League Draws: 29 August, 13:00 CET

• Venues: Monaco, Grimaldi Forum

• Match Schedules: Announced by 30–31 August

The stage is set for another season of European drama, with Monaco once again the center of attention.