The 2025-26 UEFA Women’s Champions League is ushering in a fresh format, moving away from the established group stage to introduce an 18-team league phase, inspired by the men’s “Swiss model.” Teams will compete in matches against six different opponents, with an equal number of home and away games.

Draw Information

• Date: Friday, September 19
• Time: 6 a.m. ET
• Location: Nyon, Switzerland
• Live stream: CBS Sports Golazo Network

Understanding the Draw

The draw will facilitate the pairing of teams in the league phase. The 18 clubs will be organized into three pots, each containing six clubs, based on club coefficient rankings established at the start of the UWCL season. Arsenal, as the reigning title holders, will occupy the top seed in pot 1.

The drawing process will be performed manually with physical balls drawn from a bowl, along with the use of automated software. Each club will play against two teams from outside its own association.

Teams Participating in the Draw

Nine teams have already secured their spots in the league phase:

• Arsenal (England, titleholders)
• Lyon (France)
• Paris Saint-Germain (France)
• Bayern Munich (Germany)
• Wolfsburg (Germany)
• Barcelona (Spain)
• Chelsea (England)
• Benfica (Portugal)
• Juventus (Italy)

The second leg matches of the third qualifying round concluded on Thursday, determining the remaining nine teams that will join the league phase:

• Paris FC (France)
• Real Madrid (Spain)
• Atlético de Madrid (Spain)
• Manchester United (England)
• Roma (Italy)
• Twente (Netherlands)
• Vålerenga (Norway)
• St. Polten (Austria)
• OH Leuven (Belgium)

Match Dates for the 2025-26 UWCL

• League Phase:
  Matchday 1: October 7-8
  Matchday 2: October 15-16
  Matchday 3: November 11-12
  Matchday 4: November 19-20
  Matchday 5: December 9-10
  Matchday 6: December 17

• Knockout Phase Play-offs:
  Draw: December 18 – Nyon, Switzerland
  First leg: February 11-12
  Second leg: February 18-19

• Quarterfinals:
  Draw: December 18 – Nyon, Switzerland
  First leg: March 24-25
  Second leg: April 1-2

• Semifinals:
  Draw: December 18 – Nyon, Switzerland
  First leg: April 25-26
  Second leg: May 2-3

• Champions League Final:
  May 22-24 at Ullevaal Stadion - Oslo, Norway.