The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League field is taking shape, with many of Europe’s biggest clubs positioned across four pots ahead of the league phase draw.
Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid headline the projected Pot 1, while Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United and Aston Villa are among the notable clubs in Pot 2.
The projected pots are determined largely by UEFA club coefficient rankings and are important because they help determine each team’s opponents during the Champions League league phase.
Here is a look at the projected 2026/27 Champions League pots based on the rankings shown ahead of the draw.
2026/27 Champions League Projected Pots
Pot 1
| Team | Country | Coefficient |
|---|---|---|
| Paris Saint-Germain | France | 132.000 |
| Bayern Munich | Germany | 147.500 |
| Real Madrid | Spain | 144.500 |
| Liverpool | England | 130.000 |
| Inter Milan | Italy | 127.000 |
| Manchester City | England | 125.500 |
| Arsenal | England | 119.000 |
| Barcelona | Spain | 113.250 |
| Atlético Madrid | Spain | 104.750 |
Pot 1 is loaded with European heavyweights. Real Madrid and Barcelona give Spain two of its biggest clubs in the top group, while England is represented by Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal.
PSG, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid complete a formidable projected first pot.
Champions League Pot 2
| Team | Country | Coefficient |
|---|---|---|
| Borussia Dortmund | Germany | 100.750 |
| AS Roma | Italy | 97.750 |
| Sporting CP | Portugal | 84.000 |
| Aston Villa | England | 83.000 |
| Porto | Portugal | 80.750 |
| Manchester United | England | 76.500 |
| Club Brugge | Belgium | 75.250 |
| Real Betis | Spain | 74.500 |
| PSV | Netherlands | 71.250 |
Pot 2 contains several teams capable of making deep Champions League runs.
Borussia Dortmund lead the group by coefficient, while Roma, Sporting CP and Porto bring significant European experience.
Premier League clubs Aston Villa and Manchester United also appear in the projected second pot.
Champions League Pot 3
| Team | Country | Coefficient |
|---|---|---|
| Feyenoord | Netherlands | 71.000 |
| Lille | France | 68.750 |
| Lyon | France | 65.750 |
| Bodø/Glimt | Norway | 64.000 |
| Napoli | Italy | 63.000 |
| RB Leipzig | Germany | 61.000 |
| Villarreal | Spain | 59.000 |
| Shakhtar Donetsk | Ukraine | 56.250 |
| Galatasaray | Turkey | 53.500 |
Pot 3 could create some particularly difficult matchups.
Napoli, RB Leipzig, Villarreal and Galatasaray are among the recognizable clubs in the group, while Feyenoord currently carries the highest coefficient of the projected Pot 3 teams.
Champions League Pot 4
| Team | Country | Coefficient |
|---|---|---|
| Celtic | Scotland | 44.000 |
| Slavia Praha | Czech Republic | 44.000 |
| Stuttgart | Germany | 27.500 |
| AEK Athens | Greece | 24.000 |
| Celje | Slovenia | 23.000 |
| Como | Italy | 19.989 |
| RC Lens | France | 16.699 |
| Viking | Norway | 8.249 |
| Sabah | Azerbaijan | 6.000 |
Pot 4 features an intriguing mix of established European names and clubs that would bring less Champions League experience into the competition.
Celtic and Slavia Praha have the highest coefficients among the projected Pot 4 clubs shown, while Stuttgart, Como and Lens provide representation from three of Europe’s major domestic leagues.
How Do the Champions League Pots Work?
Under the Champions League’s league-phase format, the competition uses four pots of nine teams each.
Unlike the old group-stage system, clubs are not drawn into eight four-team groups.
Instead, every team plays eight different opponents during the league phase — four matches at home and four away.
Each club is drawn to face two opponents from each pot, including two opponents from its own pot.
That means being placed in Pot 1 no longer protects a club from playing other Pot 1 giants.
For example, a Pot 1 team could still be drawn against major clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Liverpool or Barcelona depending on the draw.
Why Are Champions League Pots Important?
The pots help create balance in the league-phase schedule by distributing clubs according to their European coefficients.
However, the new Champions League format makes pot placement less advantageous than it was under the traditional group-stage system.
Previously, Pot 1 teams generally avoided one another during the group stage.
Now every club faces opponents from all four pots.
The strength of the individual opponents a club receives can therefore have a major impact on its chances of finishing near the top of the 36-team league table.
How Many Teams Are in the Champions League League Phase?
The Champions League league phase consists of 36 teams.
The projected list shown currently contains nine teams in each of the four pots, creating the full 36-team field.
However, because these are projected pots, the final composition should not be considered official until qualification is completed and UEFA confirms the participants and draw pots.
When Is the 2026/27 Champions League Draw?
The Champions League league-phase draw takes place after the qualification and playoff rounds have determined the complete field.
Once the final 36 clubs are known, UEFA confirms the four pots before conducting the draw that establishes each team’s eight league-phase opponents.
The draw will be one of the most important moments ahead of the European campaign, particularly with clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal potentially facing blockbuster opponents immediately.
2026/27 Champions League Projected Pot Breakdown
Pot 1: PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid.
Pot 2: Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Sporting CP, Aston Villa, Porto, Manchester United, Club Brugge, Real Betis, PSV.
Pot 3: Feyenoord, Lille, Lyon, Bodø/Glimt, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray.
Pot 4: Celtic, Slavia Praha, Stuttgart, AEK Athens, Celje, Como, RC Lens, Viking, Sabah.
With qualification nearing completion, attention will now turn toward the final confirmed pots and the 2026/27 Champions League league-phase draw, when all 36 clubs will discover their eight opponents.