In an unprecedented scheduling decision, UEFA will stage all 18 remaining UEFA Champions League league phase matches simultaneously on the night of Wednesday, January 28, 2026, creating a single, continent-wide football spectacle to decide the final standings for the knockout rounds.
Every match kicks off at 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET), condensing a matchday typically spread across three evenings into one dramatic climax.
This decisive night will determine which eight elite clubs earn a direct bye to the prestigious round of 16 and which 16 will face the peril of the knockout phase play-offs.
The fixture list is a blockbuster, featuring heavyweight clashes and tense battles for survival. In a marquee tie, current league leaders Arsenal, who have a perfect record after seven matches, host Kazakhstan’s debutants Kairat Almaty at the Emirates Stadium.
Meanwhile, reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, currently positioned for a top-eight finish, face a challenging away test against a strong Newcastle United side at St. James’ Park.
Other critical encounters include Manchester City versus Galatasaray, Liverpool welcoming QarabaÄŸ to Anfield, and a highly anticipated showdown between Benfica and Real Madrid in Lisbon.
The outcome of these simultaneous matches will finalize the league table and set the stage for the knockout phase play-off draw, scheduled for this Friday, January 30, in Nyon, Switzerland.
“The league phase rankings will also be relevant for seeding for the quarter-final and semi-finals,” a UEFA spokesperson noted, emphasizing the high stakes of the final standings.
The top eight teams will enjoy a valuable rest and automatic advancement to the round of 16, while those finishing from 9th to 24th will enter a two-legged play-off in February, where seeded teams, those placed 9th to 16th, will face unseeded opponents from positions 17th to 24th.
The unique, bracket-based draw ensures that teams finishing 9th or 10th will be drawn against those in 23rd or 24th place, creating clear paths through the knockout stages.
This grand finale of the expanded league phase marks a historic moment for several clubs. Bodø/Glimt of Norway and Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty are competing in the competition proper for the first time, with Kairat having already set a record for the longest journey in UEFA competition history this season.
For all 36 teams, the simultaneous conclusion ensures a transparent and thrilling race for position, with every goal across Europe potentially reshaping the destiny of clubs in other countries.
The winners of the tournament will be crowned at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest on May 30, 2026. For now, the football world’s attention is fixed on a single, unparalleled night of drama that will define the route to that final.