The anticipation is building as the Champions League gears up for its 2023/24 season, with Manchester City aiming to defend their treble-winning title. Following their memorable 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in Istanbul last June, the stage is set for another captivating tournament.
As this season marks the final iteration of the current format, the 32 participating teams will once again be divided into eight groups of four. To ensure fairness, each group will include one representative from each of the four seeded pots. Notably, clubs from the same national league will be kept apart in the group stage draw.
Pot 1 is set to feature the reigning Champions League winners, the Europa League champions, and six top-ranked domestic league champions. The composition of the remaining pots will be determined based on Uefa’s club coefficient rankings. All eyes are set on London’s iconic Wembley Stadium, where the final showdown will take place on June 1, 2024.
The highly anticipated group stage draw will unfold in Monaco on Thursday, August 31, at 5pm BST.
Confirmed Qualifiers and Play-Off Contenders
Among the 29 clubs that have already secured their spots in the Champions League group stage, three play-off encounters remain to determine the final entrants.
England:
- Arsenal
- Manchester City
- Manchester United
- Newcastle United
Spain:
- Atletico Madrid
- Barcelona
- Real Madrid
- Real Sociedad
- Sevilla
Germany:
- Bayern Munich
- Borussia Dortmund
- Leipzig
- Union Berlin
Italy:
- Inter Milan
- Lazio
- AC Milan
- Napoli
France:
- Lens
- Paris Saint-Germain
Portugal:
- Benfica
- Porto
- Braga
Netherlands:
- Feyenoord
Austria:
- Salzburg
Scotland:
- Celtic
Serbia:
- Red Star Belgrade
Switzerland:
- Young Boys
Turkey:
- Galatasaray
Ukraine:
- Shakhtar Donetsk
Play-Off Contenders:
- PSV Eindhoven (2-2 Rangers)
- AEK Athens (0-1 Antwerp)
- Copenhagen (1-0 Rakow Czestochowa)
Key Dates for the 2023/24 Season
Mark these dates on your calendars to catch the action:
- Matchday 1: 19/20 September 2023
- Matchday 2: 3/4 October 2023
- Matchday 3: 24/25 October 2023
- Matchday 4: 7/8 November 2023
- Matchday 5: 28/29 November 2023
- Matchday 6: 12/13 December 2023
As the Champions League prepares to kick off another exhilarating season, fans and football enthusiasts alike are gearing up for the spectacle that lies ahead. Stay tuned for thrilling clashes, unexpected upsets, and moments of brilliance that only this prestigious tournament can deliver.