How to watch Champions League draw for free as Man City set to learn opponents

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The Champions League draw is set to take place as Manchester City prepare to lean their upcoming opponents

The Champions League draw is set to take place(Image: Kristian Skeie - UEFA, UEFA via Getty Images)

Here's what you need to know ahead of the UEFA Champions League draw

1. Date and Time: The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League knockout draw is scheduled for Friday, February 27. The event will take place at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, commencing at 11am UK time.
2. Watch For Free: The draw will be broadcast live and free of charge on the official UEFA.com website and the Champions League app. Fans can also watch via local broadcasters such as TNT Sports in the UK or Paramount+ in the US.
3. Top Eight Seeding: Manchester City are one of the eight automatic qualifiers after finishing eighth in the league phase, meaning they are seeded for this draw. This ensures the club will be drawn against one of the unseeded winners from the knockout play-offs and will play the second leg of their Round of 16 tie at home.
4. Manchester City’s Possible Opponents: Due to the predetermined nature of the new bracket format, Manchester City’s potential opponents are limited to specific play-off winners. They will face either the winner of the Real Madrid vs Benfica tie or Bodø/Glimt after their play-off triumph over Inter Milan.
5. Tournament Bracket: The draw determines the specific pairings for the Round of 16 and the entire bracket path for the remainder of the tournament. This is the final draw of the season, as the route to the final is fully outlined here.
6. Quarter-final matchups are pre-established by the tournament bracket based on which Round of 16 pairings progress. Each team will know precisely which potential opponents they will face if they make it to the last eight.
7. Semi-final matchups are likewise predetermined to guarantee a clear route to the final for each qualifying side. This framework removes the requirement for any further draws later in the spring.
8. Fixture Schedule: The Round of 16 fixtures are set for next month, with the first legs taking place on March 10 and 11, followed by the return legs a week later. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will take place in April and May, leading up to the final at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on 30 May 2026.
9. READ MORE: Champions League round of 16 draw as it stands as Man City path explained