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 experience the entire knockout bracket yourself? Try our brand-new Champions League Bracket Simulator — pick your club and simulate every round from the Round of 16 to the Budapest Final!
👉 Try the Road to Budapest Bracket Simulator →
You can also explore the league phase with our Champions League Draw Simulator to see how teams qualify for the knockout stage.
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