Champions League knockout play-off draw: Date, time, how it works | OneFootball

The end of the league phase of the Champions League is just around the corner, and Italian clubs who qualify for the knockout play-off draw will know their opponents by the end of the month.

Only the top eight teams in the Champions League standings will earn a direct spot in the Round of 16, while those finishing from ninth to 24th will have to go through the knockout play-off, playing two extra European fixtures.

The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw takes place at 12:00 CET (11:00 GMT) on Friday, January 30, 2026.

Champions League knockout play-off draw: how does it work?

The UEFA Champions League trophy is on display during the UEFA European Club Football Season Kick-Off event in Monaco, 31 August 2023. The event sees the UEFA Champions League group stage draw, as well as the UEFA Awards ceremony to honour the men and women Player of the Year, the men and women Coaches of the Year, and to present the UEFA President’s Award. EPA-EFE/GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO

As UEFA explain on their website, “the fixtures for the knockout phase play-offs are determined by means of a draw conducted in accordance with the following principles:

“a. The clubs are paired based on their positions at the end of the league phase to form four seeded pairs (clubs in positions 9 and 10, 11 and 12, 13 and 14, and 15 and 16) and four unseeded pairs (positions 17 and 18, 19 and 20, 21 and 22, and 23 and 24).

“b. The clubs in each seeded pair are drawn into the knockout phase bracket, against the clubs in each unseeded pair: 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.”

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 20: FC Internazionale and Arsenal FC teams line up during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Arsenal FC at Stadio San Siro on January 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Teams from the same association can meet in the knock-out play-off, so there could be an Italian derby in the next round. Clubs could also face opponents they met during the league phase.

First-leg games will be played on February 17/18, while deciders will be scheduled between February 24/25.

The qualified teams will progress to the Round of 16, the draw for which takes place on Friday, February 27, 2026.

Champions League dates

Knockout phase play-offs: 17/18 & 24/25 February 2026 Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final draws: 27 February 2026 Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026 Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026 Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026 Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)