Champions League 2025/26: When will the round of 16 draw take place?

The UEFA Champions League this season is entering its decisive stage. As the knockout rounds approach, the round of 16 draw marks a pivotal moment in the race for the trophy.

Date and venue of the round of 16 draw

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has officially announced the date of the round of 16 draw. It will take place on Friday, 27 February 2026, after all the qualifying play-off matches have concluded.

The ceremony is set to begin at 11:00 am (GMT) and, as tradition dictates, will be held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Under the tournament's new format, eight clubs have secured direct qualification by finishing in the top eight places of the league phase: Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool FC, Tottenham Hotspur, FC Barcelona, Chelsea FC, Sporting CP and Manchester City.

Meanwhile, five other teams have booked their spots through the play-offs: Atlético de Madrid, Newcastle United, Bodø/Glimt, Bayer Leverkusen, and Atalanta.

Thus, the list of qualified teams is now almost complete, pending the results of the remaining play-off matches still underway.

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Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.

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