The anticipation is palpable as Europe’s elite clubs gather for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League draw.

The stage is set at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco as the Champions League draw is set to take place on the 28th of August. This edition will bring the same powerhouses of European football along with surprise new entries for what is to be an intriguing follow.

The fate of 36 teams will be decided, marking the second season that the groundbreaking format will be implemented. The league phase format, implemented in 2024/2025 season, was created with the aim of teams to face off with a diverse range of opponents on their way to the final.

Last season’s league phase, which replaced the traditional group stage, was widely considered a success. Every goal, every result mattered until the final whistle of Matchday 8, leading to a thrilling final day where league standings were constantly in flux.

This year has notable watch points, with new clubs set to join the competition to begin their European journey. Kairat Almaty from Kazakhstan and Pafos from Cyprus have fought past the qualifying rounds to earn their place among their counterparts.

Their presence is a testament on the format’s ability to offer more opportunities for teams outside the traditional powerhouses.

Amidst the glitz and glamour, the ceremony is steeped in importance. As the balls are drawn, the eyes of the football world will be on who gets the toughest—or most favorable—path.

Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will be looking to prove their dominance was no one-off. But the pressure is on from a revitalized Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso, a team stacked with talent, and the perennial threats of Liverpool and Barcelona.

The draw will not only reveal the matchups, but also set the stage for a season-long battle for supremacy that will culminate at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.