26/08/2021
UEFA Champions League group stage draw: all you need to know
When is the draw?
The 2021/22 UEFA Champions League group stage draw ceremony begins at 18:00 CET on Thursday 26 August. It is being held in Istanbul, Turkey and will be streamed live on UEFA.com. Special guests Branislav Ivanović and Michael Essien will assist with the draw.
Who is involved in the draw?
Twenty-six teams qualified automatically for the group stage, with the final six berths being decided via the play-offs.
ENG: Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea
ESP: Atlético, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Villarreal
ITA: Inter Milan, AC Milan, Atalanta, Juventus
GER: Bayern, Leipzig, Dortmund, Wolfsburg
FRA: LOSC, Paris
POR: Sporting CP, Porto, Benfica
NED: Ajax
RUS: Zenit
AUT: Salzburg
BEL: Club Brugge
UKR: Dynamo Kyiv, Shakhtar Donetsk
TUR: Beşiktaş
SUI: Young Boys
SWE: Malmö
MDA: Sheriff
When are the group stage games?
The full fixture list for the group stage will be communicated following the draw. The dates are as follows:
Matchday 1: 14/15 September
Matchday 2: 28/29 September
Matchday 3: 19/20 October
Matchday 4: 2/3 November
Matchday 5: 23/24 November
Matchday 6: 7/8 December
Full 2021/22 calendar
What about the 2020/21 award winners?
The following award winners will also be announced during the course of the draw ceremony:
UEFA Men's Player of the Year
UEFA Women's Player of the Year
UEFA Men's Coach of the Year
UEFA Women's Coach of the Year
Goalkeeper of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League season
Defender of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League season
Midfielder of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League season
Forward of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League season
Goalkeeper of the 2020/21 UEFA Women's Champions League season
Defender of the 2020/21 UEFA Women's Champions League season
Midfielder of the 2020/21 UEFA Women's Champions League season
Forward of the 2020/21 UEFA Women's Champions League season.