The Champions League knockout stages are fast approaching (Picture: Getty)
The Champions League knockout stages are fast approaching with teams looking to secure their place in the draw following the final round of league-phase fixtures.
Arsenal and Bayern Munich currently look set to finish in the top two of the table, ensuring they go straight into the round of 16 and have home second leg for each of their knockout ties.
But a bunched rest of the table means that there is still plenty to play for when it comes to the top eight, and sneaking into the top 24.
All six Premier League clubs could feasibly secure spots in the top eight and qualify straight for the last-16, but they will need results to go their way on Wednesday evening.
And while the extra playoff fixture is not ideal, Paris Saint-Germain proved it can be the foundation to a historic run to the final, as they did last year before toppling Inter in convincing fashion to win the tournament.
Here’s everything we know about the Champions League knockout phase play-off draw, including when it takes place and how to watch on TV.
When is the Champions League play-off draw?
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The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw takes place on Friday, 30 January 2026, in Nyon, Switzerland.
The draw will commence at 11am GMT, and features teams that finished ninth to 24th place in the league phase.
How to watch on TV channel and live stream
The draw will take place in Switzerland on Friday (Picture: Getty)
The draw will be streamed live on Uefa’s website and the Champions League app.
How does the draw work?
The clubs are paired based on their positions at the end of the league phase and form four seeded pairs. Those are clubs in positions nine and 10, 11 and 12, 13 and 14, and 15 and 16.
There will also four unseeded pairs from the league phase standings: positions 17 and 18, 19 and 20, 21 and 22, and 23 and 24.
Clubs in each seeded pair are drawn against two clubs in each unseeded pair: clubs 9 or 10 against clubs 23 or 24, clubs 11 or 12 against clubs 21 or 22, clubs 13 or 14 against clubs 19 or 20, and clubs 15 or 16 against clubs 17 or 18.
Teams from the same national association can be drawn against each other in the knockout phase play-offs.
When will the play-off games be played?
Champions League knockout phase
Knockout phase play-offs: 17/18 & 24/25 February 2026Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026Final: 30 May 2026
When is the Round of 16 draw?
The round of 16 draw will occur on Friday, 27 February, with the eight teams that advance from the knockout phase play-offs joining the eight teams that qualified automatically from the league phase.
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