Premier League giants dominate Champions League draw pots
Photo: Mirror
The Champions League draw for the 2026/27 season takes place on Thursday evening in Nyon, Switzerland, and three English clubs have secured places in the top seedings pot. Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City will all feature in Pot One, a testament to the strength and consistency of English football on the continental stage.
Arsenal, who reached last season's final before falling to Paris Saint-Germain, lead the English charge. Liverpool only just qualified by finishing fifth in the Premier League, with the extra place granted to England thanks to the division's strong UEFA coefficient. Manchester City, runners-up in the domestic league, complete the English trio in the top pot.
They are joined in Pot One by European champions PSG, along with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid. It is a formidable group of clubs, all of whom carry significant pedigree in this competition.
Which other English clubs are in the draw?
Manchester United and Aston Villa have been placed in Pot Two. United secured their return to the Champions League with a strong finish to last season under Michael Carrick, while Villa earned their place through a fourth-placed league finish and Europa League success. Both clubs will face two opponents from each pot, playing one at home and one away.
Pot Two also includes Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Porto, Sporting CP, Club Brugge, Real Betis, and PSV. Pot Three features Feyenoord, Lille, Napoli, Leipzig, Villarreal, Fenerbahce, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Galatasaray, while Pot Four contains Slavia Prague, Stuttgart, AEK Athens, Como, Lens, and others.
What are the rules for the new league stage?
Each team will be drawn against two opponents from each pot, giving them eight matches in total. Once those games are complete, all 36 clubs will be ranked in a single league table. The top eight sides qualify automatically for the last 16, while teams ranked ninth to 24th enter a playoff round. Clubs finishing below 24th are eliminated.
There are some restrictions on the draw. Arsenal cannot be drawn away to Inter Milan, and Liverpool cannot face Real Madrid at home. This follows a new UEFA rule that prevents teams from playing the same fixture in three consecutive years.
Why does this matter for English football?
The presence of five English clubs in the competition reflects the depth of the Premier League. It also highlights the importance of strong domestic competition in preparing clubs for European challenges. English clubs have consistently performed well in Europe, and this year's draw offers another opportunity to demonstrate that quality.
For fans in Botswana and across Africa, the Champions League remains the pinnacle of club football. The draw on Thursday will set the stage for months of compelling matches, and English clubs will be eager to make their mark.
Full Champions League draw pots
Pot One: PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid
Pot Two: Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Sporting CP, Aston Villa, Porto, Manchester United, Club Brugge, Real Betis, PSV
Pot Three: Feyenoord, Lille, Bodo/Glimt, Napoli, Leipzig, Villarreal, Fenerbahce, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray
Pot Four: Slavia Prague, Slovan Bratislava, Stuttgart, AEK Athens, LASK, Como, Lens, Viking, Sabah
The draw takes place on Thursday evening, and football fans around the world will be watching closely.