Champions League draw nears as final qualification ties loom
Thirty-two clubs are confirmed for the UEFA Champions League league phase, with four teams yet to be determined in Wednesday's decisive ties.
The field for the UEFA Champions League league phase is nearly finalised ahead of the draw scheduled for Thursday, 27 August, in Monaco. Thirty-two teams have already qualified for the competition, which will see the traditional group stage replaced by a new league format. The confirmed participants include defending finalists Arsenal, as well as recent semi-finalists Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Paris Saint-Germain are also preparing for a new campaign following their back-to-back Champions League titles. The 36 qualified teams will be divided into four pots for the draw, though specific allocations have not yet been announced. The draw is set to take place the day after the final qualification matches are concluded.
New entrants have emerged in this season's field, including Sabah, who will participate in the competition for the first time in club history. The Azerbaijani side secured their place by winning the Azerbaijan Premier League, ending Qarabag’s 11-season winning streak. They progressed through the first round of Champions League qualification to reach the main event.
LASK has also secured its first-ever Champions League spot after winning the Austrian Bundesliga. The club achieved the feat by overcoming a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Celtic with a 5-1 home victory. Houston-born forward Samuel Adeniran scored two goals in that decisive match, helping to seal LASK's qualification.
Four remaining qualification ties are scheduled for Wednesday, 26 August, with all matches currently tied on aggregate. These ties include a clash between Lyon and Fenerbahce, which followed a 1-1 draw in Istanbul last week. The outcome of these matches will determine the final four teams to join the league phase.
U.S. international Tanner Tessman is expected to feature for Lyon in Wednesday's match. He hopes to join seven other American players in the competition, including PSV's Ricardo Pepi and Sergino Dest. The draw will conclude the qualification process and set the stage for the upcoming European campaign.
