The Winners and Losers From 2026-27 Champions League Draw
The 2026-27 Champions League draw has been finalized, setting the stage for the upcoming European football season. Real Madrid received a favorable path, while other top clubs face challenging matchups in the new league phase format.
Why it matters
The Champions League is the premier club competition in global football, and the draw significantly influences the competitive landscape and betting markets for the season.
All 36 teams competing in the 2026–27 Champions League found out their league phase opponents in Thursday’s draw, and some walked away happier than others.
The fight for European glory kicks off next month, where defending cup holders Paris Saint-Germain will look to become just the second team to ever win three Champions League titles in a row. Hoping to play spoiler are last year’s runners-up Arsenal, as well as the almighty Bayern Munich, Barcelona and of course, the only team to ever three-peat: Real Madrid (2016–2018).
But before any of the European giants or their eager competitors can begin dreaming of silverware, they first must survive the league phase. A top-eight finish guarantees automatic passage to the round of 16, while those that finish from ninth to 24th must compete in the knockout phase playoffs. The bottom 12 teams are eliminated.
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