The tournament utilizes a single-league format featuring 36 participating clubs in a joint table, replacing the traditional group-stage groups of four, as reported by Depor. Under the system developed by UEFA, clubs are divided into four pots based on their five-year UEFA coefficient rankings. Each team faces two opponents from every pot during the eight matchdays, splitting fixtures evenly with four matches at home and four away.
How the 2025–26 League-Phase Format Works
According to tournament rules, the top eight clubs at the conclusion of the league phase advance directly to the round of 16. Teams finishing from ninth to twenty-fourth place enter a two-legged knockout play-off round to determine the remaining eight spots.
Matchday Schedule and Key Dates
The league phase matches run from September 16, 2025, through January 28, 2026, according to the official tournament calendar. The final matchday of the single-table phase wraps up in late January.
Where to Watch the Champions League Draw
Global broadcasters and digital platforms carry live coverage of Thursday’s draw ceremony:
- United States: CBS Sports streams the ceremony on Paramount+, with coverage beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT, while ViX offers Spanish-language options, according to broadcast schedules.
- United Kingdom: TNT Sports holds the primary broadcast rights for the event.
- Spain: Movistar Liga de Campeones and Movistar Plus+ broadcast the event starting at 18:00 CEST.
- South America: ESPN and Disney+ provide subscription-based live streams across regional time zones.
- Mexico: Max and Amazon Prime Video carry the official UEFA feed for subscribers.
- Germany, France, and Italy: Viewers can follow the draw via UEFA’s official digital platforms, including UEFA.tv and YouTube, alongside national rightsholders starting at 18:00 CEST.
Worth a look