UEFA Champions League knockout stage draw: Where to watch, live stream, teams, seeds, potential matchups

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The 2025-26 Champions League is now entering its key phase after the end of the league phase and the playoffs, which saw some big surprises. Italian giants Inter and Juventus were both eliminated from the tournament after two disappointing defeats against Bodo/Glimt and Galatasaray, while Real Madrid knocked Jose Mourinho’s Benfica out of the tournament after a much-discussed two-legged playoff.

The teams that finished from ninth through 24th in the league phase took part in the playoffs, where a spot in the round of 16 against the top eight was on the line. Heading into Friday’s draw, the list of potential opponents for each team is clear, but the exact matchups will finally be determined. The round of 16 will kick off on March 10 across Europe as the road to the May 30 final in Budapest gains steam. Here’s what you need to know before tuning in, and don’t forget, you can watch all the Champions League action live on Paramount+.

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How to watch

Date: Friday, Feb. 27 | Time: 6 a.m. ET
Location: House of European Football — Nyon, Switzerland
Watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network

Which teams are in the draw?

Seeded (league phase top eight, ordered by league phase ranking)

Arsenal
Bayern Munich
Liverpool
Tottenham
Barcelona
Chelsea
Sporting CP
Manchester City

Unseeded (knockout phase playoff winners)

Real Madrid
PSG
Newcastle
Atletico Madrid
Atalanta
Bayer Leverkusen
Galatasaray
Bodo/Glimt

UEFA Champions League bracket

36 started. 16 remain.

The UEFA Champions League bracket will be set on Friday at 6AM ET live on CBS Sports Golazo Network 📺 pic.twitter.com/p2eIOo7x9g

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 25, 2026

What does the path look like for the round of 16?

The top eight teams in the league phase will be seeded in this round after securing a direct passageway to the last 16. Here is each team’s list of potential opponents for the round of 16:

Arsenal‘s possible opponents: Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen
Bayern Munich’s possible opponents: Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen
Liverpool‘s possible opponents: Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray
Tottenham‘s possible opponents: Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray
Barcelona‘s possible opponents: PSG, Newcastle
Chelsea‘s possible opponents: PSG, Newcastle
Sporting CP‘s possible opponents: Real Madrid, Bodo/Glimt
Manchester City‘s possible opponents: Real Madrid, Bodo/Glimt

What are the rules for the knockout stages?

The rest of the tournament will take place over a two-legged series, minus the final, with teams advancing to the next round based on aggregate scores. The away goals rule will not apply, with teams advancing to extra time and, if needed, penalties, if they are tied.