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Sports · Soccer · published 2026-08-27 · via The Athletic

Champions League draw in Monaco sets stage for expanded league phase

Image via The Athletic
Image via The Athletic

The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League draw takes place Thursday in Monaco, with 36 clubs entering the expanded league phase. Defending champions PSG are among the favorites, while Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United will learn their group-stage opponents. The ceremony begins at 12 p.m. ET and streams on UEFA.com and CBS Sports Golazo Network.

Expanded Detail

The draw unfolds at Monaco's Grimaldi Forum, a venue named for the city-state's ruling family that typically hosts art exhibitions and ballet. Thirty-six clubs enter the expanded league phase, each facing eight matches before any knockout round begins.

Defending champions PSG headline a contender list that includes Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Arsenal. Broadcast coverage spans UEFA's free platforms globally, CBS Sports Golazo Network in the U.S., and TNT Sports with HBO Max in the UK. The ceremony starts at noon Eastern Time.

Context

The expanded format means more matches for more clubs, which could deepen fan engagement across

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
Read the full article at The Athletic →
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This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “Champions League draw live updates: Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd and more to learn fixtures.” Browse more stories.