FC Bayern is once again considered one of the top favorites to win the Champions League title this season. However, the opponents the German record champions will face in the group stage have yet to be determined by the draw. The date for the draw has already been set.
Following their semifinal exit against PSG last season, Bayern’s goal for the upcoming season is clear: they want to win the Champions League. Captain Manuel Neuer recently emphasized this as well.
But before they can even think about the knockout stage or a potential final, they have to get through the group stage. Who FC Bayern will face in their eight group stage matches will be decided at the draw in Monaco.
The Champions League playoffs are currently underway, with the remaining teams vying for a spot in the group stage of Europe’s premier club competition.
Champions League draw is coming up
The draw for the Champions League group stage will take place on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. There, the 36 participating teams will be paired with their respective opponents.
The procedure differs significantly from previous years. Since the reform, teams are no longer drawn into traditional groups of four. Instead, all 36 teams compete in a single group stage.
Each team will be drawn against eight different opponents. Four matches will be played at home, and four more will be played on the road.
Bayern in Pot 1 Again
As usual, FC Bayern is in the first draw pot. However, this does not guarantee a supposedly easy group stage. With Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan, there are already several top-tier clubs in Pot 1 that the Munich team could face.
Pot 2 also features several top-tier teams, including AS Roma, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Sporting Lisbon, and FC Porto.
From Pot 3, the draw could result in matchups against Galatasaray Istanbul, Feyenoord Rotterdam, or SSC Napoli, among others. The fourth pot is still incomplete due to the ongoing playoffs. So far, it includes teams such as Slavia Prague and Como 1907.
Once the draw is complete, it won’t be long until the first matchday of the new Champions League season: The group stage begins on September 8. For FC Bayern, this means they’ll face their first tough international tests early in the season.