Just 90 days after PSG brushed aside Inter Milan in the 2025 Champions League final in Munich, the new season of Europe’s most prestigious competition is already here.
The big question ahead of today’s draw: will it be a dream run or a nightmare fixture list for Europe’s elite clubs?
During their victory parade, PSG proudly displayed their treble—lifting the French Cup, Ligue 1 title, and Champions League trophy—signaling they’ll once again be the team to beat.
Ahead of this week, 29 teams had already booked their spots in the 2025/26 Champions League, with the remaining seven confirmed through midweek play-offs. This year introduces debutants such as Pafos FC (Cyprus), Kairat Almaty (Kazakhstan), and Norway’s Bodø/Glimt, who will all step onto Europe’s grandest stage for the first time.
The Swiss Model – Year Two
This is the second season under UEFA’s new Swiss model. Instead of traditional groups, all 36 clubs are placed in a single league table. Each side will play eight matches—four home and four away—against opponents drawn from four seeded pots.
Teams are seeded based on UEFA coefficients, with today’s draw assigning them two rivals from each pot. Domestic clashes are avoided, and no side can be paired with more than two opponents from the same country.
The draw itself has also gone digital: instead of physical balls, software (monitored by Ernst & Young) determines fixtures, gradually revealing matchups pot by pot to keep fans in suspense.
The Four Pots
Pot 1: PSG, Real Madrid, Man City, Bayern, Liverpool, Inter, Chelsea, Dortmund, Barcelona
Pot 2: Arsenal, Leverkusen, Atlético Madrid, Club Brugge, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt, Benfica
Pot 3: Tottenham, PSV, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting CP, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Bodø/Glimt, Marseille
Pot 4: Monaco, Galatasaray, Copenhagen, Union SG, Athletic Bilbao, Qarabağ, Newcastle, Pafos, Kairat
Dream Draw
Every side in Pot 1 is dangerous, though Dortmund may be seen as the most favorable matchup. In Pot 2, Brugge and Eintracht Frankfurt are viewed as the more manageable options, while Slavia Prague and Bodø/Glimt stand out in Pot 3. From Pot 4, clubs will be hoping for Pafos, Kairat, or Qarabağ, though long travel distances to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan could pose challenges.
Draw From Hell
No club will want to face PSG or Real Madrid from Pot 1. In Pot 2, heavyweights like Arsenal, Juventus, and Atlético Madrid will be tough obstacles. Pot 3 features dangerous names such as Europa League winners Tottenham and Serie A champions Napoli, while Pot 4 contains dark horses like Newcastle and Athletic Club—both sides most would rather avoid.
The Stage is Set
With so many giants in play and debutants eager to prove themselves, the 2025/26 Champions League promises high drama from the very start.
⚽ Stay tuned for today’s draw from Monaco—kick-off coverage begins 90 minutes before the official start at 12pm ET (6pm CET).
