UEFA Champions League playoff schedule, qualifying bracket and teams
The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League is entering its final playoff round, featuring seven two-legged ties to determine the last participants for the 36-team league phase. Matches are scheduled for late August, with the final league phase draw taking place on August 27.
Why it matters
This marks a significant transition in the premier European club football competition, impacting the composition of the expanded league phase.
Hear this story The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League is on to the playoff round, the final stage of qualifying before the 36-team league phase begins in September.
The playoff round features seven two-legged ties, with the winners advancing to join 29 other clubs who qualified directly for the league phase. The matches will be played on Aug. 18-19 with the second legs scheduled for Aug. 25-26 across Europe.
While the expanded format has taken some of the star power out of the playoff round in recent years, fans will be familiar with a handful of the participants including Scottish giant Celtic, Turkey's Fenerbahçe and last year's darling Bodø/Glimt from Norway.
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