Champions League Play-Off Draw: Seeded Clubs and Possible Routes

The Champions League play-off draw is done, and it's set up a genuinely intriguing final hurdle before this season's league phase takes shape. Seven ties, some involving recognisable European names and others still contingent on results yet to be confirmed, will decide the last seven places at the top table of European football.

Here's exactly how the draw fell, which clubs are seeded, and the realistic routes ahead for the sides worth watching.

How the Draw Works

Fourteen clubs and pairings went into Monday's draw, ten from the Champions Path (reserved for teams that won their domestic league) and four from the League Path (for teams that qualified via a multi-team domestic system).

The draw produces seven ties in total: five through the Champions Path and two through the League Path. The winners of all seven ties join 29 already-qualified sides to make up the 36-team league phase.

The Play-Off Draw Results

Where a tie shows two clubs separated by a slash, that pairing's spot in the play-off round was still contingent on an unresolved third qualifying round match at the time of the draw, check the official UEFA fixture list for the latest as those ties are confirmed.

Seeded Clubs to Know

Seeding in these ties is based on each club's UEFA coefficient, giving the higher-ranked side a notional edge on paper, if not always in practice. Some of the more recognisable seeded names in this year's play-off round include:

• Celtic (Scotland): one of the highest-profile names in the draw, seeded against Austria's LASK.
• Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia): a regular in Champions League qualifying, seeded in their tie against Norway's Viking.
• Crvena Zvezda / Red Star Belgrade (Serbia): seeded in their pairing's tie against Denmark's AGF Aarhus.
• Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia): seeded in a tie still partly dependent on an unresolved qualifying result.
• AEK Athens (Greece): seeded against the Levski Sofia/Kairat Almaty pairing.
• Olympique Lyon, Fenerbahce, Olympiacos and Bodo/Glimt: the standout names from the League Path ties, reflecting the strength of their respective leagues' coefficients.

Notable Routes to the League Phase

Celtic's tie against LASK looks like one of the more straightforward routes on paper, though qualifying football has a habit of punishing complacency.

Fenerbahce and Olympiacos both face a genuinely tricky task given the strength of the clubs on the other side of their ties, with Lyon and Bodo/Glimt representing exactly the kind of danger that can end a bigger name's European campaign before it's even started.

For clubs like Red Star Belgrade and Dinamo Zagreb, reaching the league phase would extend an already strong recent record of navigating Champions League qualifying.

What Happens Next

The seven winners of these ties will join the 29 clubs that already qualified directly, completing the 36-team field for the league phase draw later this month.

How to Bet on the Play-Off Round

• Match winner: Back a club in any of the seven play-off ties via the Champions League odds page at Sportsbet.io.
• Outright winner: Once the league phase field is confirmed, check the soccer outright odds page for the latest tournament-winner pricing.
• In-play betting: Follow both legs of every tie live via the soccer in-play page.

Odds move quickly as outstanding qualifying results are confirmed, so treat any figure here as a snapshot and check live pricing before you bet.

Responsible Gambling

With two legs still to play in every tie and the qualifying picture still settling, it's worth staying disciplined with any betting you do across the play-off round.

Set a budget in advance and stick to it, avoid increasing your stakes to chase back an early loss, and take advantage of deposit limits, time-out tools, and self-exclusion options if you ever feel you need them. If gambling has stopped feeling like entertainment, support is available through the responsible gambling page at Sportsbet.io.

FAQs: Champions League Play-Off Draw

When was the Champions League play-off draw?

Monday 3 August 2026.

When are the Champions League play-off round fixtures?

First legs are played 18/19 August, with second legs on 25/26 August.

How many teams qualify for the Champions League league phase?

Thirty-six in total, 29 automatic qualifiers plus the seven winners of the play-off round.

What is the difference between the champions path and league path?

The champions path is for clubs that won their domestic league title, while the league path is for clubs that qualified through a domestic system offering more than one Champions League place.

Is Celtic in the Champions League play-off round?

Yes, Celtic are seeded and face Austria's LASK in their tie.

Where can I bet on the Champions League play-off round?

You can check live odds and betting markets on the Champions League odds page and the soccer outright odds page at Sportsbet.io.

The Final Hurdle Before the League Phase

Seven ties, several genuinely tricky routes, and a league phase draw still to come, the play-off round is the last obstacle before this season's Champions League truly gets underway. Check the latest odds on the Champions League odds page, browse the soccer outright odds page, and see the current promotions available at Sportsbet.io.

Please gamble responsibly. If you'd like support setting limits or taking a break, visit the responsible gambling page.