Champions League 2026/27 Playoff Draw and Match Schedule

The final qualifying round for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League has reached its decisive stage. Fourteen clubs are set to battle in playoffs for a spot in the tournament’s league phase.

These two-legged matches will be played throughout August, leading up to the main league-phase draw scheduled for August 27.

Playoff Draw Details

The draw took place on August 3 at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. Out of the fourteen teams involved, ten come from the champions path—teams that won their domestic leagues—and four via the league path, which includes clubs qualifying through their league position in countries with multiple Champions League spots.

Ten of the playoff contenders will be finalized after the third round of qualifying, with those matches happening during the weeks starting August 3 and August 10.

Matchups for the 2026/27 Champions League Playoffs

• Levski Sofia (BUL) or Kairat Almaty (KAZ) vs. AEK Athens (GRE)
• Celtic (SCO) vs. LASK (AUT)
• GNK Dinamo (CRO) or Zalgiris (LIT) vs. Viking (NOR)
• Mjallby (SWE) or Slovan Bratislava (SVK) vs. Ararat-Armenia (ARM) or Celje (SVN)
• Hapoel Be'er-Sheva (ISR) or Red Star Belgrade (SRB) vs. Aarhus (DEN) or Sabah (AZE)
• Fenerbahce (TUR) or Sturm Graz (AUT) vs. Sparta Prague (CZE) or Lyon (FRA)
• Olympiacos (GRE) or NEC (NED) vs. Union SG (BEL) or Bodo/Glimt (NOR)

Playoff Match Dates

• First legs: August 18 and 19
• Second legs: August 25 and 26

The exact kickoff times will be confirmed by UEFA closer to the fixtures.

Europa League Drop-ins

Teams losing at this playoff stage will automatically enter the Europa League group stage. This is the final chance for clubs to move into the Europa League after failing to qualify for the Champions League league phase. After this point, teams knocked out later in the Champions League won’t get transferred to the Europa League.

League Phase Draw

The draw for the Champions League league phase follows on August 27, beginning around 12 p.m. CET (6 a.m. ET). This event will take place in Monaco.