Paris Saint-Germain is riding high as back-to-back Champions League champs, and now the entire soccer world is waiting for Thursday’s draw to see who they’ll face on their historic quest. We’re talking about the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League draw, set to reveal all the League Phase fixtures that kick off on Sept. 8. The last time anyone pulled off three straight titles in the Champions League era? Only Real Madrid, back from 2016-18. PSG is looking to join that elite club after taking down Arsenal in penalty kicks in June’s final, and you know they’re not holding back.
How the Path to History Gets Drawn Up
Thursday’s draw in Monaco isn’t just a formality, it’s where the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League really starts to feel real. We’ve got 36 teams lining up for the League Phase, with 29 of them already locked in thanks to their domestic league finishes. The final seven spots are getting decided through qualifiers that wrap up on Wednesday. Want to catch the drama unfold live? You can tune in Thursday at 12 p.m. ET on Paramount+, ViX, or CBS Sports Golazo in the U.S. If you’re up north, DAZN and fuboTV have you covered, and UEFA.com and UEFA.tv will be streaming it for everyone else.
The Draw Rules, and That Shakhtar News
So how does this thing actually work? The 36 teams get sorted into four pots, all based on their UEFA club coefficients, which basically measure their European success over the last five seasons. Guess who’s sitting pretty in Pot 1? Our reigning champs, PSG, obviously. Each team’s gonna get drawn against two opponents from each of the four pots, giving them eight fixtures total , four home games, four away. But here’s the kicker: UEFA’s got a new rule. No hosting an opponent you already played at home in the last two League Phases. That means if Liverpool pulls Real Madrid, you’re seeing that game at the Bernabéu, not Anfield. Same deal for Inter Milan and Arsenal, potentially heading to Emirates Stadium. And a really tough note: Shakhtar Donetsk has struck a deal to play their home Champions League games at London’s Stamford Bridge. It’s heartbreaking they can’t play in Ukraine because of the ongoing military invasion that started four years ago.
This Thursday isn’t just about drawing names; it’s about setting the stage for history. Can PSG pull off the unprecedented three-peat, matching only Real Madrid in the Champions League era? The road to the final starts Sept. 8, and you know everyone’s gonna be glued to that draw.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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