What is the UEFA Champions League Format, How does it works for 2025-26

UEFA Champions League 2025-26: Group Stage Draw, Teams, Format, and Live Streaming Details

The countdown is over—the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League is officially here. The much-anticipated group stage draw takes place on Thursday, August 28, 2025, where 36 of Europe’s biggest clubs will discover their opponents in the world’s most prestigious club football competition.

This season marks only the second year of the revamped league format, which has already transformed the excitement of the Champions League.

PSG Aim to Defend Their Title

Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) return with high hopes of defending their crown. After lifting the trophy in the first edition under the new structure, the French giants are determined to prove their dominance once again on Europe’s grandest stage.

Record Six Premier League Clubs Competing

The 2025-26 season also makes history for English football. For the first time, six Premier League clubs have qualified for the Champions League. This includes Tottenham Hotspur, who booked their place by winning last season’s UEFA Europa League, joining the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool in the competition.

How to Watch the UEFA Champions League 2025-26 Live

With excitement building across Europe and beyond, fans won’t want to miss a single match. Here are the complete live streaming and broadcast details for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.

What is the format of UEFA Champions League for 2025-26 season?

As per last season’s revamp, the 36 qualified teams will play in a league phase with each side playing eight matches based on Thursday’s draw.

The ceremony has four seeded pots of nine clubs to decide who will play whom in the first stage of the competition.

The top eight teams will qualify directly for the round of 16. The following 16 sides will enter into home and away playoffs to reach the next round. The bottom eight teams in the league phase will be eliminated.

Since 2003, the Champions League had featured 32 clubs split into eight groups of four with the top two from each section advancing to the last 16.

UCL Schedule and Format

Games start on Sept. 16 and the final matchday is Jan. 28. Bodo/Glimt should play one home game in January on its heated artificial turf in the Norwegian offseason.

The top eight teams in the final standings advance to the round of 16 in March. Teams ranked ninth to 24th go to the round of two-legged knockout playoffs in February.

The final at the Puskas Arena in Budapest is on May 30. Just 12 days later the World Cup starts in Mexico City.

____