Alex MacQuoid
Champions League Final Brackets Finalized in Nyon
The House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, hosts the definitive draw for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout stages. On Friday 27 February 2026 at 12:00 CET, the path through the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals will be mapped out for the remaining contenders.
Eight clubs secured automatic entry to the round of 16 by finishing in the top tier of the league phase. They are joined by the eight winners of the knockout phase play-offs, which concluded on Wednesday 25 February.
Qualified Teams and Seeding
The league phase top eight act as seeded teams and will be positioned against unseeded opponents from the play-off round.
| Seeded (League Phase Top 8) | Unseeded (Play-off Winners) |
|---|---|
| Arsenal (ENG) | Real Madrid (ESP) |
| Bayern München (GER) | Paris (FRA) |
| Liverpool (ENG) | Newcastle (ENG) |
| Tottenham (ENG) | Atleti (ESP) |
| Barcelona (ESP) | Atalanta (ITA) |
| Chelsea (ENG) | Leverkusen (GER) |
| Sporting CP (POR) | Galatasaray (TUR) |
| Man City (ENG) | Bodø/Glimt (NOR) |
Champions League Draw
Draw Mechanics and Bracket Logic
The UEFA administration pairs clubs based on their original league phase rankings. Four seeded pairs are formed: positions 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8. These teams are then allocated to specific sides of the bracket designated as silver or blue.
For each pairing, one ball is drawn to place a team in their reserved spot on the silver side. The remaining team in that pair is automatically assigned to the blue side. This procedure continues until the entire bracket is populated. From this point forward, teams follow a fixed path to the final. Matches and home/away order for the later stages are predetermined by bracket position.
Countries are no longer separated at this stage. Clubs can face domestic rivals from the same national association or teams they previously played during the league phase.
Also read: Best Players in UEFA Champions League History – TipsGG Rank
Knockout Phase Calendar
- 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 at Budapest
Fans can follow the ceremony live via UEFA.tv or the official UEFA Champions League app. The specific match schedule for the round of 16 will be confirmed the night of the draw. Quarter-final fixtures will be announced on 19 March, following the conclusion of the previous round. TipsGG will provide full analytical coverage as the road to Budapest unfolds.