2026 Champions League Bracket Challenge: How to Play and Win
The knockout phase of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League season is here, and the 24 teams remaining will battle for the title of European club champions. The 2026 UCL Bracket goes live on February 27th. Fans can complete their Champions League brackets and enter UCL bracket pools on CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app.
How the Bracket Challenge Works
Similar to an NCAA Tournament bracket pool, participants predict which teams will advance at each stage of the Champions League bracket, earning points for correct picks. Create Champions League pools to compete against friends and family, or enter the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Challenge for a chance to win a trip to London, including tickets to a UCL match and a tour of the UCL Today set.
Sign up now before brackets are unlocked after the Round of 16 Draw. Visit CBSSports.com/UCLBracket or play on the CBS Sports App.
Creating Your Own 2026 UCL Pool
To set up your own 2026 UCL pools, navigate to CBSSports.com and hover over the “Fantasy” tab until you find the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Games logo. Click the logo to access the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Games page. Once logged in, click the “Create Pool” button and customize your UCL bracket pool settings. You can then copy the URL and share it with friends and family.
Teams to Watch in the Knockout Phase
As the 2026 Champions League Knockout phase approaches, several teams stand out as strong contenders:
Arsenal FC
The English Premier League leaders dominated the league phase, winning all eight matches and boasting a +23 goal differential – the best in the competition. With a six-point lead in the EPL, Arsenal appears well-positioned to focus on securing their first UEFA Champions League title. Their top-eight seed earns them a bye in the initial round.
Bayern Munich
Champions of the Bundesliga in 12 of the last 13 seasons, Bayern Munich also holds a six-point lead domestically and is the No. 2 seed in the UCL Knockout phase after winning seven of eight matches in the league phase. The 2020 FIFA Club World Cup and Champions League winners are four-time champions of Europe. Harry Kane has been in exceptional form, scoring 38 goals in 33 matches across all competitions, adding eight goals in eight matches for England during international play.
How to Enter the 2026 UEFA Champions League Bracket Games
Sign up now before brackets are unlocked after the Round of 16 Draw. Visit CBSSports.com/UCLBracket or play on the CBS Sports App.
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