The final round of league-stage fixtures in the UEFA Champions League will be played simultaneously on Wednesday, January 28, with all 18 matches kicking off at 11:00pm EAT.
The coordinated schedule marks the conclusion of the competition’s league phase under the new Champions League format, which was introduced in the 2024–25 season.
The approach mirrors the final day of domestic leagues such as the Premier League, where matches are played at the same time to preserve sporting integrity.
For many clubs, including several from the Premier League, qualification remains undecided heading into the final round, leaving everything to play for.
UEFA’s decision to stage all fixtures concurrently is designed to prevent teams from gaining an unfair advantage by knowing other results before their own matches. Under the format, no side can adjust its approach based on outcomes elsewhere.
The principle of simultaneous kick-offs has its roots in international football history, following controversy at the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
During the group-stage match between West Germany and Austria, both teams knew that a 1–0 victory for the Germans would see them qualify ahead of Algeria, who had already completed their fixtures.
After West Germany scored early, the remainder of the match was widely criticised for a lack of competitive intensity, prompting Algeria to lodge a formal complaint with FIFA.
Although FIFA ruled that no regulations had been breached, the incident led to a structural change, with final group-stage matches at World Cups subsequently scheduled to take place at the same time.
In the Champions League, the current scheduling model was introduced alongside the expanded league-phase format.
It also takes geographical considerations into account, ensuring teams based furthest east in Europe are scheduled for away fixtures to minimise extreme local kick-off times.
Kazakhstani side Kairat Almaty, for instance, are playing away to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in London.
Had the fixture been staged in Kazakhstan, it would have kicked off at 1:00am local time.
A similar situation applies to Azerbaijani club Qarabag, who are away to Liverpool; a home fixture would have begun at midnight local time.
The latest local kick-off on the final matchday will take place in Cyprus, where Pafos host Slavia Prague at 10:00pm local time.
At the end of the league phase, the top eight teams will qualify directly for the round of 16. Teams finishing between ninth and 24th place will enter a two-legged knockout play-off to determine the remaining places in the last 16.
