Champions League Playoff Draw and Full Schedule for 2026/27 UEFA Qualifying

The qualifying stage for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League has reached its decisive playoff round. Fourteen teams will compete in this final phase to secure a spot in the tournament's league phase. These ties are two-legged affairs set for August, leading up to the league phase draw on August 27.

Details of the Playoff Draw

The draw took place on August 3 at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The fourteen teams involved split into two groups: ten from the champions path, which includes domestic league winners entering qualifying, and four from the league path, reserved for clubs that qualified based on their league positions in countries with multiple Champions League spots.

At the time of the draw, ten of the playoff teams were still to be determined through third-round qualifying matches held during the weeks starting August 3 and August 10.

Matchups in the 2026/27 Champions League Playoffs

• Levski Sofia (BUL) or Kairat Almaty (KAZ) vs. AEK Athens (GRE)
• Celtic (SCO) vs. LASK (AUT)
• GNK Dinamo (CRO) or Zalgiris (LIT) vs. Viking (NOR)
• Mjallby (SWE) or Slovan Bratislava (SVK) vs. Ararat-Armenia (ARM) or Celje (SVN)
• Hapoel Be'er-Sheva (ISR) or Red Star Belgrade (SRB) vs. Aarhus (DEN) or Sabah (AZE)
• Fenerbahce (TUR) or Sturm Graz (AUT) vs. Sparta Prague (CZE) or Lyon (FRA)
• Olympiacos (GRE) or NEC (NED) vs. Union SG (BEL) or Bodo/Glimt (NOR)

Schedule of the Playoff Matches

• First legs: August 18 and 19
• Second legs: August 25 and 26
• League phase draw: August 27

The exact kickoff times will be updated once UEFA confirms them.

Europa League Qualification from Playoffs

Teams losing at this playoff stage will move directly into the Europa League league phase. This represents the final chance for clubs eliminated here to continue in European competition; no teams dropping out after the Champions League group stage or knockout rounds will enter the Europa League.

League Phase Draw Details

The draw for the Champions League league phase is scheduled for August 27, starting around noon Central European Time (6 a.m. ET). This event will take place in Monaco.