The Champions League league phase is done — now the real drama begins. The 2025/26 knockout stage features a brand-new format with Knockout Round Playoffs, followed by the traditional Round of 16, Quarter-Finals, and Semi-Finals. Here's your complete guide to how the knockout draws work.
The New Knockout Format at a Glance
| Stage | Teams | Draw Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knockout Playoff | 16 (positions 9–24) | Seeded vs Unseeded | December/January |
| Round of 16 | 16 (top 8 + 8 playoff winners) | Seeded vs Unseeded | February |
| Quarter-Finals | 8 | Open draw | March |
| Semi-Finals | 4 | Open draw | March |
| Final | 2 | — | May 2026 |
Stage 1: Knockout Round Playoffs
Who Plays?
After the 8 league-phase matchdays, teams finishing 9th to 24th enter a two-legged playoff:
| Seeded (9th–16th) | vs | Unseeded (17th–24th) |
|---|---|---|
| Higher league position | Lower league position | |
| Home advantage in 2nd leg | Away in 2nd leg |
Draw Rules
The Knockout Playoff draw follows specific constraints:
- Seeded teams (9th–16th) are drawn against unseeded teams (17th–24th)
- Country protection applies — teams from the same country cannot face each other
- League-phase opponents excluded — you won't face a team you already played in the league phase
- The seeded team plays away first, home second (2nd leg advantage)
Possible Scenarios
If your team finished 9th, you'll face one of the teams ranked 17th–24th. The higher your league-phase finish, the weaker your likely opponent — but in the Champions League, there are no easy games.
Stage 2: Round of 16
Who Plays?
The top 8 from the league phase join the 8 playoff winners:
| Seeded (League 1st–8th) | vs | Unseeded (Playoff Winners) |
|---|---|---|
| Direct qualifiers | Earned their spot in playoffs | |
| Home in 2nd leg | Away in 2nd leg |
Draw Rules
- Seeded (league positions 1–8) vs Unseeded (playoff winners)
- Country protection still applies — same-country matchups are not allowed
- The seeded team has home advantage in the second leg
Why This Matters
The top 8 reward is significant. Not only do they skip the stressful playoffs, but they also get:
- Extra rest time
- 2nd leg home advantage
- Potentially weaker opponents (compared to other top 8 teams)
Stage 3: Quarter-Finals
Completely Open Draw
From the Quarter-Finals onwards, all restrictions are lifted:
- No seeding — any team can face any team
- No country protection — same-country matchups are possible
- No previous-opponent restrictions
- Home and away legs are determined by the draw
This is where the Champions League truly becomes unpredictable. An all-English Quarter-Final? An El Clásico before the Final? Anything is possible.
Stage 4: Semi-Finals
The Semi-Final draw follows the same open format:
- 4 remaining teams drawn into 2 ties
- No restrictions whatsoever
- The draw also determines which side of the bracket leads to the final as the "home" team
Key Dates 2025/26
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| League Phase ends (Matchday 8) | January 2026 |
| Knockout Playoff Draw | Late January 2026 |
| Knockout Playoffs (1st & 2nd leg) | February 2026 |
| Round of 16 Draw | February 2026 |
| Round of 16 (1st & 2nd leg) | March 2026 |
| Quarter-Final & Semi-Final Draw | March 2026 |
| Quarter-Finals | April 2026 |
| Semi-Finals | April–May 2026 |
| Final | May 2026 |
Country Protection Explained
In the Playoff and Round of 16 draws, country protection prevents same-country matchups. This means:
- Real Madrid can't face FC Barcelona or Atlético de Madrid until the Quarter-Finals
- Liverpool can't draw Manchester City or Arsenal until later rounds
- Bayern München won't meet Borussia Dortmund or Bayer Leverkusen early
This protection creates a fascinating dynamic — it guarantees international matchups in the early knockout rounds while saving potential domestic blockbusters for the later stages.
What's Different From the Old Format?
| Feature | Old Format (Pre-2024) | New Format (2024+) |
|---|---|---|
| Knockout entry | 16 teams (group winners + runners-up) | 24 teams (playoffs + top 8 direct) |
| Extra round | None | Knockout Round Playoffs |
| Country protection | Round of 16 only | Playoffs + Round of 16 |
| Open draw starts | Quarter-Finals | Quarter-Finals |
| Total knockout matches | 29 | 37 |
The new format adds 8 extra knockout matches through the playoff round, creating more drama and more opportunities for upsets.
Simulate the Knockout Draw
Want to see who could face who in the knockout rounds? While the league phase determines the matchups, our Champions League Draw Simulator lets you explore the league-phase standings that lead to the knockout stage.
Stay tuned — knockout round simulators are coming soon!
👉 Try the UCL Draw Simulator →
Related Articles
- Champions League 2025/26 Pots — Complete Team List — All 36 teams and their seedings
- How the Champions League Format Works — The league-phase system
- Champions League Draw Simulator Guide — How to use our simulator
- Top 10 Dream Champions League Draws — The fixtures every fan dreams about
Explore Team Profiles
See how your team is positioned for the knockout stage:
- Real Madrid — Pot 1 favourites for a top 8 finish
- Bayern München — German powerhouse targeting direct qualification
- Liverpool — Anfield fortress in European competition
- FC Barcelona — La Masia talent on the biggest stage
- Manchester City — Defending the 2023 crown