The draw for the knockout playoff round of the revamped UEFA Champions League is here.
This stage marks a critical juncture in the competition, shaping the path teams must take to advance.
But which teams are involved? Why do league phase rankings matter? And when is the next draw? Here’s everything you need to know.
When is the Champions League Draw for the Knockout Playoff Round?
The draw is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 31, at 6 a.m. ET / 12 p.m Nigeria time at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
Clubs in the Champions League Draw for the next rounds
Only the 16 teams that finished 9th and 24th place in the league phase are involved in this draw.
The top eight teams have already secured direct entry into the Round of 16 while teams finishing 25th to 36th are eliminated from the competition.
Does where you finished in the league phase matter in the draw?
The final league standings determine the knockout matchups, unlike previous seasons where open draws were used. The new seeding system ensures that the highest-ranked teams do not face each other until the latter stages, preserving competitive balance.
For example:
- Liverpool and Barcelona, having finished first and second, cannot meet until the final.
- Arsenal and Internazionale, placed third and fourth, cannot play against Liverpool or Barcelona until the semifinals.
- Unexpected placements—such as Manchester City (22nd), Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid finishing lower than expected—have led to early heavyweight clashes.
- Man City (22nd) must face either Real Madrid (11th) or Bayern Munich (12th).
- PSG could meet Barcelona or Liverpool in the Round of 16 if they progress.
The knockout playoff draw: how does it work?
The draw will follow a structured pairing system:
- Teams are paired based on their final positions (e.g., 9th vs. 10th, 11th vs. 12th, and so on).
- Each pair is drawn into opposite halves of the knockout bracket.
- Example: Real Madrid (11th) and Bayern Munich (12th) cannot meet until the final.
- Paired teams have two possible opponents before the draw.
- Example: Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will face either Celtic (21st) or Man City (22nd).
- Unseeded teams (17th-24th) are drawn first, determining their place in the bracket.
- Seeded teams (9th-16th) are drawn next, ensuring that a lower-ranked team faces a higher-ranked team.
- The higher-seeded teams play the second leg at home.
Will there be country protection?
No. Clubs from the same country can face each other starting from this round. For instance, PSG could face AS Monaco or Brest.
Teams may be drawn against an opponent they already faced in the league phase, including their most recent Matchday 8 rival.
