UEFA Changes Champions League Draw Rules: Inter Can No Longer Host Arsenal

UEFA will introduce an additional restriction for the 2026/27 Champions League league-phase draw. Under the new rule, the same fixture between two clubs cannot be played at the same team's stadium for three consecutive seasons.

However, the rule does not prevent the two clubs from being drawn against each other again. If that happens, the match will simply have to be hosted by the other team.

One of the clearest examples involves Inter Milan and Arsenal. In the 2024/25 season, Inter hosted the London club at San Siro and won 1-0. One year later, the draw once again sent Arsenal to Milan, but this time the English side took revenge with a 3-1 victory.

As a result, a third consecutive Inter vs Arsenal league-phase match in Italy will not be possible. If the two clubs are drawn against each other again in the 2026/27 season, Arsenal will be able to host Inter in London, while the Italian side will not be allowed to stage the fixture at San Siro again.

The same situation applies to Liverpool and Real Madrid. The two clubs' last two league-phase meetings were both played at Anfield. Liverpool won 2-0 in November 2024 before beating the Spanish giants again, 1-0, in November 2025.

Therefore, a third consecutive league-phase meeting between the two teams in Liverpool is ruled out. If they are paired together again, the game can only be played in Madrid, with Real hosting Liverpool.

Importantly, the new rule does not ban repeat pairings. Arsenal can still be drawn against Inter, while Liverpool can still face Real Madrid. The restriction applies only to which club is allowed to host the match.

It will become one of the additional conditions used for the league-phase draw and will be automatically enforced by UEFA's draw software alongside restrictions involving seeding pots, national associations and other criteria.

The rule also does not apply in the same way to potential meetings between the same clubs during the knockout stage.

The draw for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase will take place on Thursday, August 27, starting at 18:00 Central European Time.

Information on seeding, team groupings and the detailed draw procedure will be made available by UEFA from 08:30 CET on the morning of the draw.

The full Champions League fixture schedule, including match dates and kick-off times, is due to be published no later than Saturday, August 29. Shortly before the schedule is released, UEFA will post a notification on its social media channels announcing the upcoming publication.

The league phase of the Champions League will begin on Tuesday, September 8.