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UEFA Sets 2026-27 Champions League Seeding Pots

8/28/2026

24 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

UEFA Sets Pots

UEFA confirmed the seeding pots for the 2026/27 Champions League league phase.
Pot 1 includes PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter, Manchester City, Arsenal and Barcelona.
Four debutants Como, LASK, Viking and Sabah join the competition.
The league phase runs 8–10 September 2026 to 27 January 2027 across eight matchdays.
Top eight finishers advance to the round of 16, while places 9-24 enter February play-offs.

Summary

Arsenal's Euro Schedule

Arsenal will host Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Lille and Sabah, and travel to Bayern Munich, Real Betis, Napoli, Slavia Prague.
Arsenal hold a 4-1-3 record against Borussia Dortmund in eight previous meetings.
Arsenal remain unbeaten versus Real Madrid in Europe, with three wins and one draw.
Napoli have expressed interest in signing Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus, potentially creating a direct clash.

History

Historical Context

In 1992 UEFA launched the Champions League group stage, with 36 national champions, an open draw and eight second-round winners split into two groups of four that played six matches each between 25 November 1992 and 21 April 1993. The 2026/27 draw returns seeded pots, assigning Arsenal, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Como to Pot 1, mirroring the 1992 move toward commercial seeding.

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UEFA Sets Pots

UEFA confirmed the seeding pots for the 2026/27 Champions League league phase.
Pot 1 includes PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter, Manchester City, Arsenal and Barcelona.
Four debutants Como, LASK, Viking and Sabah join the competition.
The league phase runs 8–10 September 2026 to 27 January 2027 across eight matchdays.
Top eight finishers advance to the round of 16, while places 9-24 enter February play-offs.

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