Champions League knockout phase play-off draw: Format, dates, fixture schedule and qualified teams
When is the Champions League knockout phase play-off draw? What teams are involved? When will the games be played? How does the format work? All questions answered as 16 teams look to reach the knock-out stages...
Thursday 29 January 2026 13:30, UK
The Champions League league phase is over - we know eight teams heading for the last 16, but who now has two extra games in their schedules for the right to join them, and who will they play?
The top eight teams - Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting and Man City - have all qualified for the next round of the Champions League, but we still don't know who they will face in the knock-out phases.
Here's everything you need to know about the play-off draw and who's involved...
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How do the play-offs work?
The teams ranked ninth to 24th in the league phase will now go head-to-head in two-legged play-off games to determine which eight will progress as the unseeded sides for the last 16, where their opponents will be determined by who finished where in the top eight.
Each play-off side already knows from their league position they will end up in one of two paths. For instance, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, the teams in ninth and 10th, will each play one of Bodo/Glimt and Benfica in the play-offs, the teams in 23rd and 24th. The same with 11th and 12th vs one or 21st and 22nd, and so on. Exactly who plays who will be determined at the knock-out play-off draw.
Teams from the same national association can play each other at this stage - as can teams who faced one another in the league phase.
When is the draw for the play-offs?
The draw will be held from UEFA's headquarters in Switzerland on Friday January 30, with a scheduled start time of 11am - though expect it to begin a little later to get through all the formalities, montages and guest presenters.
Who is in the play-offs?
The 16 teams vying for a place in the last 16 are...
- 9th: Real Madrid
- 10th: Inter Milan
- 11th: PSG
- 12th: Newcastle
- 13th: Juventus
- 14th: Atletico Madrid
- 15th: Atalanta
- 16th: Bayer Leverkusen
- 17th: Borussia Dortmund
- 18th: Olympiakos
- 19th: Club Brugge
- 20th: Galatasaray
- 21st: Monaco
- 22nd: Qarabag
- 23rd: Bodo/Glimt
- 24th: Benfica
Who will Newcastle play in the play-offs?
When the play-off draw is made on Friday, Newcastle will play either Qarabag or Monaco.
The two winners will then play either Barcelona or Chelsea in the last-16.
When will the play-offs take place?
The games will be played over the midweeks of February 17-18 and 24-25.
When is the draw for the last 16?
Following the conclusion of the play-off round the draw for the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be held on February 27.
