The pots
Teams are seeded into pots by their UEFA club coefficient. In the Champions and Europa League there are 4 pots of 9; in the Conference League there are 6 pots of 6. In the Champions League the title holder is placed as the top seed in Pot 1.
Who plays whom
In the Champions and Europa League each team draws 2 opponents from every pot — one to play at home and one away — for 8 matches with a 4 home / 4 away balance.
In the Conference League each team draws 1 opponent from each of the 6 pots, for 6 matches, balanced 3 home and 3 away overall.
The country rules
Two constraints keep the draw fair. First, a team can never be drawn against a club from its own country. Second, a team can face at most 2 clubs from any single other country.
These association rules apply to the league-phase draw. They do not apply in the knockouts — in the knockout draw, clubs from the same country can meet.
The knockout draw
After the league phase, the knockout draw is shaped by seeding. In the play-offs and Round of 16, each seeded team is paired with one of two possible opponents its bracket section allows. The quarter-final and semi-final home/away order is drawn, and in the final the higher-bracket semi-final winner is the nominal home side.
Frequently asked questions
Can a team be drawn against a club from its own country?
Not in the league phase — it is forbidden. In the knockout draw there is no such protection, so same-country ties can happen.
How is home and away decided?
In the league phase you get one home and one away game against each pot (Champions/Europa), or three home and three away overall (Conference). In the quarter-finals and semi-finals the first-leg host is drawn.
What is the maximum number of opponents from one country?
Two. A team can face at most two clubs from any single country other than its own.
Run the draw yourself
Pick a team, hit draw and watch the opponents revealed one by one — a rule-accurate, animated draw for all three competitions.