Play-off Draw
Champions League play-off draw sets stage for knockout clashes
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The UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw took place on January 30, 2026, in Nyon, Switzerland, pairing teams like Newcastle United against Qarabağ FK and Real Madrid with Benfica. These matches will determine the final eight spots in the round of 16, with first legs scheduled for February 17 and 18. Winners advance to face top-eight finishers in March.
The UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw on January 30, 2026, paired Benfica with Real Madrid in a rematch just weeks after Benfica's dramatic victory. Newcastle United face a long trip to Qarabag, while Paris Saint-Germain meet Monaco in an all-French tie. The draw, held in Nyon, Switzerland, determines the final eight teams to join the top eight in the round of 16.
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FIFA conducted the draws for the European and intercontinental play-offs for the 2026 World Cup on November 20, 2025, in Zurich, setting the stage for six remaining qualification spots. Sixteen European teams will compete in four paths, while six non-European teams battle in two pathways hosted in Mexico. The winners will join 42 already qualified nations at the expanded tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.