The draw for the new-look Champions League league phase took place on Friday, August 28, 2026, and it delivered some heavyweight matchups. According to France 24, defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will face both Barcelona and Manchester City in the opening stage of the competition.
The draw, which was covered by multiple outlets including UEFA.com and Sky Sports, set the fixtures for all 36 teams competing in this season's tournament. France 24 reported that PSG's schedule includes those two marquee clashes, while The Guardian noted that Arsenal will take on Real Madrid and that Manchester City also drew Barcelona in addition to PSG.
This season marks the second year of the Champions League's revised format, which replaces the traditional group stage with a single league phase. Under this system, each club plays eight matches against eight different opponents, rather than facing three teams home and away. The top eight finishers in the 36-team table advance directly to the round of 16, while clubs placed ninth through 24th enter a playoff round.
The draw was conducted in Monaco and involved teams from across Europe's top leagues. Beyond the headline fixtures involving PSG, Barcelona, and Manchester City, the event also determined opponents for English clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Aston Villa, according to Sky Sports.
With the league phase now set, attention turns to the match schedule, which will be confirmed in the coming days. The opening round of fixtures is expected to begin in mid-September, and the early matchups will immediately test the credentials of the tournament's main contenders.
