Champions League last 16 draw 2026: Date, time, teams, seeding rules and key details
Champions League last 16 draw: Here are all the key details about the upcoming event.
The UEFA Champions League last 16 draw is scheduled to take place on Friday (February 27). With Europe’s elite clubs now set for the knockout stages, this draw will decide thrilling matchups and potential routes all the way to the Budapest final. Here’s a complete guide to everything you need to know ahead of the draw.
When and where is the Champions League last 16 draw happening?
The draw will begin at 11:00 GMT (12:00 CET / 4:30 PM IST) on February 27, 2026, live from UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. It’s a one-stop ceremony that sets the entire knockout bracket, last 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals, giving every team instant clarity on who stands between them and the trophy.
Draw format and seeding explained
The new-look Champions League pairs the eight highest-ranked teams from the league phase (seeded) against the eight playoff survivors.
Seeded clubs enjoy home advantage in the second leg of their last-16 ties. The draw also maps out fixed paths for quarterfinals and semifinals, meaning survivors know their possible future opponents from day one. Notably, there are no same-country restrictions, so domestic rivalries remain possible, and previous league-phase opponents can meet again.
Seeding bonuses continue deeper. Top-four league finishers (Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham) get home second legs in quarterfinals if they advance, while Arsenal and Bayern would host semifinal returns.
Confirmed last-16 teams
Seeded (league phase top 8): Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sporting Lisbon, Tottenham Hotspur.
Playoff qualifiers: Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt, Galatasaray, Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid.
Defending champions PSG and record winners Real Madrid both scraped through the playoffs, joining a mix of giants and shock packages.
Key knockout dates
Last 16 first legs: March 10–11, 2026
Last 16 second legs: March 17–18, 2026
Quarterfinals: April 7–8 and 14–15, 2026
Semifinals: April 28–29 and May 5–6, 2026
Final: May 30, 2026 – Puskas Arena, Budapest
Biggest talking points and shock stories
Real Madrid could lock horns with Manchester City in an instant classic, while PSG might renew rivalries with Barcelona or Chelsea. Liverpool face Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray, and Arsenal/Bayern could meet Atalanta or Leverkusen.
Standout surprises include Arctic minnows Bodo/Glimt, who stunned Inter Milan in the playoffs after big league-phase scalps, and Galatasaray, who produced a sensational extra-time comeback against Juventus to reach this stage.
As the balls roll in Nyon today, the road to Champions League glory just got a lot clearer, and a whole lot more exciting.
About the Author
Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.
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