When is the 2025/26 Champions League league phase draw?
City will compete in Europe's elite club competition for the 15th successive season, which is the longest ongoing run amongst English sides and a mark of our exceptional consistency.
Pep Guardiola's side will be going for a second success, having lifted the famous trophy back in 2023.
When and where
The league phase draw for the 2025/26 Champions League will be made on Thursday 28 August.
An exact time is still to be confirmed.
WATCH: City's dramatic journey to becoming European champions
Format
The format of the league phase remains the same as in 2024/25, with all 36 teams entering into one league table.
After eight matches, the top eight will progress straight to the Round of 16 while the sides placed ninth to 24th will go into a play-off round.
As for the draw, each of the 36 teams will be placed into one of four seeded pots and pitted against two clubs from each pot.
We will play half of our fixtures - one against a team from each pot - at the Etihad Stadium and the other half away from home.
Teams involved
29 teams have already qualified for the league phase, with the final seven to come through the qualifying process that ends on 27 August.
England: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, NewcastleSpain: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, Athletic Club, VillarrealItaly: Napoli, Inter, Atalanta, JuventusGermany: Bayern München, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, DortmundFrance: Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, MonacoNetherlands: PSV, AjaxPortugal: Sporting CPBelgium: Union Saint-GilloiseTurkey: GalatasarayCzechia: Slavia PrahaGreece: Olympiacos
WATCH: City 1-0 Inter: Official short film
League phase match dates
Matchday 1: 16–18 September 2025Matchday 2: 30 September–1 October 2025Matchday 3: 21/22 October 2025Matchday 4: 4/5 November 2025Matchday 5: 25/26 November 2025Matchday 6: 9/10 December 2025Matchday 7: 20/21 January 2026Matchday 8: 28 January 2026
How to follow
As always, we'll cover the draw in full on mancity.com and our official app.
We'll tell you all eight of our opponents as soon as they're drawn before confirming kick-off dates and times once they're agreed.
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