We’ll compete in Europe’s top tier continental competition for the 16th successive season, which is the longest ongoing run amongst English sides.
Enzo Maresca will be hoping to lead us to a second success in that time, after Pep Guardiola lifted the famous trophy in 2023.
League phase draw
The league phase will be held on Thursday 27 August 2026 at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland with the ceremony set to get underway at 17.00 (UK).
We’ll bring the news of who City will face as soon as it lands right here on mancity.com and our official app.
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How does it work?
Every side will play eight games in the league phase of the 2026/27 Champions League – four at home and four away.
The 36 teams will be organised into four pots of nine, depending on previous performances in Europe and domestically.
City will play two teams in each pot, one at home and one away.
After the eight games, the top eight will qualify immediately for the Round of 16 while those ranked ninth to 24th will go into a play-off round.
From there, it’s two-legged knockout ties all the way to the final at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano stadium in the Spanish capital.
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League phase fixture dates
Matchday 1: 8–10 September 2026
Matchday 2: 13/14 October 2026
Matchday 3: 20/21 October 2026
Matchday 4: 3/4 November 2026
Matchday 5: 24/25 November 2026
Matchday 6: 8/9 December 2026
Matchday 7: 19/20 January 2027
Matchday 8: 27 January 2027
Other key dates
Knockout phase play-offs: 16/17 & 23/24 February 2027
Round of 16: 9/10 & 16/17 March 2027
Quarter-finals: 6/7 & 13/14 April 2027
Semi-finals: 27/28 April & 4/5 May 2027
Final: 5 June 2027
Knockout phase draws to be confirmed
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Who has already qualified for the league phase?
29 sides are already guaranteed to be in the league phase, owing to their domestic performance last season.
The remaining seven sides will come through the qualifying process before the draw is made.
England – Aston Villa, Arsenal, City, Manchester United, Liverpool
Spain – Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis
Italy – Inter, Napoli, Roma, Como
Germany – Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Leipzig, Stuttgart
France – Paris Saint-Germain, Lens, Lille
Netherlands – PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord
Portugal - Porto, Sporting CP
Belgium – Club Brugge
Czechia – Slavia Prague
Turkey – Galatasaray
Ukraine – Shakhtar Donetsk
A Manchester City player in focus during a match, wearing the team's light blue jersey and kicking a football on the field.
Manchester City players line up before a match at Etihad Stadium with a large banner in the background and children in Manchester City shirts.
A promotional image for a live match between Manchester City and Wolves, featuring a Manchester City player and logos for the Premier League, Manchester City, and Wolves.