The stage is set for the Champions League knockout phase after UEFA completed the play-off draw on Friday.
The 16 participating teams who finished between 9th and 14th have been paired off and will battle for a place in the round of 16, where the top eight clubs from the league phase will be waiting for them.
We already know the potential pairings in the next round thanks to the new format that was first implemented last season.
For instance, Newcastle United have been drawn against Qarabag in the play-offs, and should they beat the Azerbaijani club, will face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the last-16. If they are drawn together and both teams reach the League Cup final, the Magpies and the Blues will play each other four times in quick succession in March. However, if Chelsea are drawn on the other side of the bracket then they will play either reigning champions PSG or AS Monaco.
It’s also possible that a Premier League team could face other Premier League teams for the rest of the tournament, up to and including the final. If Chelsea were to meet Newcastle and beat them in the round of 16, they could face either Spurs or Liverpool in the quarter-finals. The winner of that tie could meet Manchester City in the semi-finals if they are also on the same side of the bracket and win their matches. One of those teams could then face Arsenal in the final, provided the Gunners are on the other side of the bracket and make it that far, thus completing the all-Premier League route.
Arsenal and Bayern Munich, who finished first and second in the league phase table respectively, will face the winner of either Borussia Dortmund versus Atalanta or Olympiacos versus Bayer Leverkusen.
City, who also finished inside the top eight, will face the winner of either Benfica versus Real Madrid or Bodo/Glimt versus Inter Milan. Spurs and Liverpool will take on the winner of either Galatasaray versus Juventus or Club Brugge versus Atletico Madrid.
You can see the bracket and potential round of 16 matchups below, with the play-off ties in italics. Two teams from Path 1 and Path 2 will face off against each other in the semi-finals, as will two teams from Path 3 and Path 4.
UEFA Champions League knockout bracket for 2026 in full:
The road to Budapest mapped out 🗺️#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/MVE5BwfEup
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 30, 2026
Path 1:
AC Monaco or PSG vs Chelsea or Barcelona
Galatasaray or Juventus vs Liverpool or Spurs
Path 2:
Benfica or Real Madrid vs Sporting CP or Man City
Borussia Dortmund or Atalanta vs Arsenal or Bayern Munich
Path 3:
Qarabag or Newcastle vs Chelsea or Barcelona
Club Brugge or Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool or Spurs
Path 4:
Bodo/Glimt or Inter Milan vs Sporting CP or Man City
Olympiacos or Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal or Bayern Munich
Key Champions League dates:
- Knockout phase play-offs: 17/18 & 24/25 February 2026
- Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026
- Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026
- Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026
- Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)
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