UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Main Stage Draw

On August 28, the draw for the main stage of the 2025/26 Champions League took place in Nyon, Switzerland.

As in the previous year, teams will play 8 matches from September to January in a single-league format. Based on the results, the top 24 clubs will advance to the playoffs: the first eight will go directly to the Round of 16, while the other 16 will compete in play-off matches.

Champions League 2025/26 Draw Results

Club Reactions
Inter president Giuseppe Marotta:
"Liverpool and Arsenal at San Siro? As a football fan, I am certainly fascinated. The level of difficulty is very high, but we will be able to compete, especially since our supporters help us so much at home. The most important thing is to challenge our opponents in perfect physical and mental shape."

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Lars Ricken:
"Manchester City, Inter, Juventus, Tottenham — this is the Champions League. This is what you dream of as a child. Our away matches will be particularly difficult. Games against Juventus are always special, especially considering the 1997 final. And I’m happy that in Copenhagen we’ll meet Youssoufa Moukoko. These are serious tests, but we will embrace them with full dedication."

Copenhagen sporting director Sune Smith-Nielsen:
"These are very interesting opponents we are eager to face. In Europe it’s rarely different — every match is against a strong side. We are part of the biggest tournament and are happy to bring even more European nights to Copenhagen fans, both at Parken and away."

Kairat — the sensation of the draw

Kazakhstan’s Kairat became one of the main highlights of the ceremony. The players celebrated the news that they would face Real Madrid with great joy, jumping from their seats in excitement.

For the Almaty club, this will be a historic tournament: Kairat will undertake the longest trip in Champions League history. Their away match against Sporting Lisbon requires covering 6,911 kilometers — a new competition record. The previous record was set in 2015 when Astana played Benfica (6,173 km).

Kairat’s match schedule in the main stage:

• Real Madrid — home

• Inter — away

• Club Brugge — home

• Arsenal — away

• Olympiacos — home

• Sporting Lisbon — away

• Pafos — home

• Copenhagen — away

Conclusion

The 2025/26 Champions League draw once again highlighted the "Swiss system" format, where every round is filled with top matches. Some clubs received several classic rivalries (Inter, Borussia Dortmund), while others will experience long-awaited meetings with giants (Kairat).

On September 16, Europe’s main club tournament will kick off, promising fans many spectacular matches and unexpected stories.