Uefa Champions League Draw: Last-16 picture, dates, seeding and who could meet whom
The Uefa Champions League Draw on Friday at 11: 00 GMT will set the last-16 ties and allocate every side of the bracket, a development that determines not only immediate opponents but potential quarter-final, semi-final and final routes. The draw follows the conclusion of the two-legged knockout play-offs and trims the competition to 16 teams for the knockout phase.
Uefa Champions League Draw: bracket, dates and format
Sixteen teams will discover their opponents in the Champions League knockout draw on Friday at 11: 00 GMT. The eight winners of the two-legged knockout phase play-offs join the top eight sides from the league-phase table in the draw. From this point onward the competition adopts a knockout format, with each fixture other than the final contested over two legs. The draw will also allocate a side of the bracket for all teams, meaning they will know who they could potentially meet in the quarter-final, semi-final and final.
Last-16 first legs will take place on either 10 or 11 March, with the reverse fixture scheduled for 17-18 March. The Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary will host the 2025-26 final on 30 May.
Who has already qualified and recent play-off outcomes
Several clubs were already guaranteed places in the last 16 before the play-offs concluded. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur were already in the hat, with Newcastle joining them in the last 16 after a 9-3 aggregate win over Qarabag in the play-off round. Other decisive play-off outcomes that shape the draw include:
- Paris Saint-Germain eliminated Monaco and are set to face Chelsea or Barcelona in the last 16.
- Galatasaray beat Juventus 7-5 on aggregate and will play Liverpool or Tottenham.
- Bodo/Glimt eliminated Inter Milan and will face either Manchester City or Sporting.
- Atalanta defeated Borussia Dortmund and will play Arsenal or Bayern Munich.
- Bayer Leverkusen will play Bayern Munich or Arsenal.
- Real Madrid set up a tie with Sporting or Manchester City.
Potential last-16 matchups and English clubs' pathways
The completion of the play-offs has narrowed down possible opponents for the English clubs. At the start of the week, the English sides which progressed to the last 16 knew their opponents would be one of four sides; with the midweek play-offs concluding, that will be down to two for Friday's draw.
Key last-16 possibilities heading into the draw:
- Arsenal: Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta
- Chelsea: Newcastle or Paris Saint-Germain
- Liverpool: Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray
- Manchester City: Bodo/Glimt or Real Madrid
- Newcastle: Chelsea or Barcelona
- Tottenham: Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray
The earliest opportunity for two English sides to meet is in the last 16, when Newcastle could come up against Chelsea. The earliest opportunity for any other all-English meetings is in the quarter-finals, when Manchester City could meet Arsenal, and when Chelsea or Newcastle could meet Tottenham or Liverpool.
Seeding mechanics and what changes this season mean
As with the play-offs, teams' final ranking in the league phase will influence seeding in the last 16, with seeded sides—those that finished in the top eight of the league phase—being given the advantage of playing second legs at home. This is the first season that league-phase positions will also influence seeding for the quarter-final and semi-finals.
Teams finishing first to fourth at the end of the league phase will be seeded for the quarter-finals and therefore given the home advantage in their quarter-final tie second legs. The two sides who finish top and runner-up in the league will also be seeded for the semi-finals, earning them the benefit of playing the second leg of their semis at home should they reach that stage. If a seeded team does not progress to the quarter or semi-finals, the team that knocks them out will inherit their seeding position.
Draw timing, scope and live coverage
The draw for the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be made on Friday, February 27, at 11: 00 GMT (listed in some previews as 11am). Live coverage will be available on websites and apps from 11am. The draw will confirm the bracket paths after the play-offs and lock in the matchups that will be played on 10-11 March and 17-18 March.
Recent results and the draw mechanics mean teams and supporters will have clarity on immediate opponents and the potential routes to the final in Budapest on 30 May 2026. Further details about exact dates, times and fixtures will be confirmed once the Uefa Champions League Draw is completed on Friday.
