Kenya Sport

2026/27 Champions League Playoff Draw and Match Schedule

The qualification phase for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League has reached its decisive playoff round. Fourteen teams will compete for spots in the league stage of the tournament. These final places will be determined after the third qualifying round concludes.

The playoff matches are two-legged ties set for August, just before the league phase draw on August 27.

Playoff Draw Details

The draw took place on August 3 at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. Fourteen teams entered this stage: ten through the champions path and four through the league path. The champions path includes domestic league winners, while the league path features teams qualifying based on their league position in countries with multiple Champions League slots.

Ten playoff teams remain undecided, pending results from the third qualifying round played during the weeks of August 3 and August 10.

Matchups in the Champions League Playoffs

  • Levski Sofia (BUL) or Kairat Almaty (KAZ) vs. AEK Athens (GRE)
  • Celtic (SCO) vs. LASK (AUT)
  • GNK Dinamo (CRO) or Zalgiris (LIT) vs. Viking (NOR)
  • Mjallby (SWE) or Slovan Bratislava (SVK) vs. Ararat-Armenia (ARM) or Celje (SVN)
  • Hapoel Be'er-Sheva (ISR) or Red Star Belgrade (SRB) vs. Aarhus (DEN) or Sabah (AZE)
  • Fenerbahce (TUR) or Sturm Graz (AUT) vs. Sparta Prague (CZE) or Lyon (FRA)
  • Olympiacos (GRE) or NEC (NED) vs. Union SG (BEL) or Bodo/Glimt (NOR)

Playoff Match Schedule

  • First legs: August 18 and 19
  • Second legs: August 25 and 26

The second legs conclude just before the Champions League league phase draw, which occurs on August 27 in Monaco at noon CET (6 a.m. ET).

Europa League Implications

Teams that lose at this playoff stage automatically enter the Europa League group phase. This is the last chance for Champions League hopefuls to drop into the Europa League; no teams eliminated after the league phase begins will transfer to that competition.

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