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

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.

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.”

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.

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)