When is the 2025/26 Champions League knockout phase draw? | OneFootball

The 2025-26 league phase concludes in the Champions League this evening, as teams battle for a place in the knockout stages.

The top eight teams after tonight's fixtures progress automatically to the Round of 16, while those placed ninth to 24th will face-off in the play-off round.

Here is all you need to know about the 2025/26Champions League knockout phase play-off draw.

When is the Champions League knockout phase play-off draw?

The draw for the 2025-26 play-off round will take place on Friday 30th January 2026, in Nyon, Switzerland. It will take place at 11am GMT.

How will the Champions League knockout phase play-off draw work?

The draw for the play-off round is based on final finishing position in the league phase. Teams are paired based on their position in the final table. The clubs who finish ninth and 10th are paired, 11th and 12th, 13th and 14th, and so on.

Fixtures will be drawn as followed: clubs 9 or 10 against clubs 23 or 24, clubs 11 or 12 against clubs 21 or 22, clubs 13 or 14 against clubs 19 or 20, and clubs 15 or 16 against clubs 17 or 18.

Teams from the same country and teams that played each other in the league phase are not separated during the draw.

When will the knockout phase play-off games take place?

The play-off round will be two-legged ties, with the first fixtures scheduled forFebruary 17th and 18th, and the returns a week later on February 24th and 25th.

The winners of the ties will progress to the Round of 16, to face the top eight teams from the league phase. A draw will take place for the Round of 16 fixtures on Friday 27th February 2026.

Champions League knock-out phase schedule