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Manchester United to learn Champions League draw and format after making European football return
26th August, 2026 04:26 PM
Manchester United will discover their opponents for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase when the draw is held in Monaco on Thursday, August 27, 2026.
The Reds are returning to Europe’s premier club competition after finishing third in the Premier League last season, securing their place in the tournament back in May 2026.
The final qualifying matches are scheduled for Wednesday evening, after which UEFA will confirm the complete list of 36 teams, their respective seedings and the arrangements for Thursday’s draw.
The draw is scheduled to begin at around 5:00 pm BST on Thursday, August 27, 2026, with Manchester United set to learn the identity of their eight league-phase opponents.
United will be placed in Pot 2, based on UEFA’s club coefficient rankings. Under the new Champions League format, the club will face two teams from each of the four pots, with one fixture at home and the other away.
The Premier League giants cannot be drawn against another English club during the league phase.
The fixture schedule, including the dates and kick-off times for each match, will be released by UEFA by Saturday, August 29, ahead of the league phase getting underway on Tuesday, September 8.
The return to Champions League football represents an important moment for United after their absence from Europe’s elite competition last season. The club will now wait to discover the European challenges that await them as they begin their campaign.
United supporters hoping to attend Champions League matches at Old Trafford have also been reminded that membership requirements apply to ticket sales. Some fixtures may have restrictions, with certain tickets reserved for supporters who became members before the draw.
The identity of United’s eight opponents will therefore be one of the major talking points when the draw takes place in Monaco, with fans eagerly awaiting the start of another Champions League campaign.
Meanwhile, manager Michael Carrick has reinforced his squad ahead of the demanding campaign. Manchester United have completed the signing of Cameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton at undisclosed fee. The new arrivals at Old Trafford are expected to steer the team forward, despite a shaky start to the new English Premier League season.
