UEFA Champions League Draw: Round of 16 Matchups Set for 2026 Knockout Stage

UEFA Champions League

The latest UEFA Champions League draw has officially mapped out the Round of 16 and the knockout bracket through to the 2026 final, setting up several heavyweight clashes that will capture global attention across the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.

The draw ceremony took place in Nyon, Switzerland, determining not only the Round of 16 pairings but also the pathway to the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

Round of 16 Fixtures

Here are the confirmed matchups from the UEFA Champions League draw:

• Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea FC

• Galatasaray vs Liverpool FC

• Real Madrid vs Manchester City

• Atalanta BC vs FC Bayern Munich

• Newcastle United vs FC Barcelona

• Atlético de Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur

• FK Bodø/Glimt vs Sporting CP

• Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Arsenal FC

Blockbuster Ties to Watch

The standout clash from the UEFA Champions League draw is Real Madrid vs Manchester City, a matchup that has defined recent knockout stages and could easily have been a final.

Another major headline is Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea, while Newcastle United vs Barcelona brings together two clubs with passionate global fan bases and contrasting European histories.

Quarter-Final Path

The bracket structure means:

• PSG/Chelsea will face Galatasaray/Liverpool

• Real Madrid/Manchester City will meet Atalanta/Bayern

• Newcastle/Barcelona will face Atlético/Tottenham

• Bodø/Glimt/Sporting will meet Leverkusen/Arsenal

This setup creates the possibility of all-English, all-Spanish, or cross-league showdowns deep into the tournament.

Key Dates (ET)

• Round of 16: March 10–11 & March 17–18, 2026

• Quarter-finals: April 7–8 & April 14–15, 2026

• Semi-finals: April 28–29 & May 5–6, 2026

• Final: May 30, 2026

What This Means for the 2026 Title Race

The UEFA Champions League draw has stacked the top half of the bracket with recent champions and finalists, making the road to the trophy especially demanding for clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich.

With multiple Premier League clubs still alive and strong representation from Spain and Germany, the knockout stage promises intense competition and high global viewership.

As the Round of 16 approaches, attention now shifts from the draw room to the pitch—where Europe’s biggest clubs begin their battle for the 2026 Champions League crown.