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The Champions League play-off round for the 2025/26 season has ended, with Real Madrid, defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Atlético Madrid and others having decided to advance to the last 16.
The remaining teams will find out their opponents and potential routes to the final when UEFA decides on the last 16 on Friday.
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Here’s everything you need to know about the draw timing, format, seeding and the teams still competing for glory in European football’s biggest club competition.
When does UEFA hold the draw?
The draw will take place on Friday, February 27, 2026 at 11:00 GMT in Nyon, Switzerland.
This will determine which teams will compete in the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals.
How is the lottery conducted?
The eight playoff winners will compete against the teams that finished in the top eight in the league in a knockout format.
Since each team knows their quarterfinal and semifinal opponents, this draw determines their chances of advancing to the finals.
The best of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals will be played in two matches, and the final will be played in one match.
Which teams made it to the top 16?
Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sporting Lisbon and Tottenham Hotspur had already qualified for the last 16 as the top eight in the league stage.
Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt, Galatasaray, Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid made it to the play-offs.
When will the best of 16 matches take place?
The first leg of the remaining 16 matches will be played on March 10th and 11th, with the second leg scheduled for March 17th and 18th.
When are the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals?
The quarterfinals will be held on April 7-8 and April 14-15.
The semi-finals will be held on April 28-29 and May 5-6.
The final will be held on May 30th at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.
Where can the biggest teams play in the last 16?
Real Madrid will face either Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon. If Man City fail to draw with Madrid, they will face Bodo/Glimt.
Paris Saint-Germain will face either Barcelona or Chelsea. Barcelona could also face Newcastle United.
Liverpool will face either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray.
Arsenal or Bayern Munich will face Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen.
Surprise package anyone?
Norway’s Bodo/Glimt, a small club based in the Arctic Circle, defeated Inter Milan in the play-offs and beat Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the league stage to reach the last 16.
Turkish champions Galatasaray also advanced to the last 16 after a thrilling playoff game against Juventus. The Istanbul club defeated Juve 5-2 at home, but fell behind 3-0 in the second leg and won with two goals in extra time.
How does seeding affect the draw?
It is believed that seeded teams (those who finish in the top eight of the league stage) will have the advantage of playing the second of the final 16 legs at home.
Where a team is placed in the league stage will also affect the seeding for subsequent rounds.
The teams finishing in the top four of the league stage (Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Tottenham) will be given home advantage in the second leg of the quarter-finals if they reach that stage.
Arsenal and Bayern, who finished first and second in the league stage, will have the advantage of playing the second semi-final leg at home if they advance that far in the tournament.
If a seeded team fails to advance to the quarterfinals or semifinals, the losing team will receive the seeding rights.
Can teams from the same country play against each other?
Yes, teams from the same country can play against each other in the final tournament.
Clubs can also play against teams they have already played against in the league stage.
