Chelsea set for 2025 Champions League draw

An editorial look at Chelsea's likely opponents draw date and the new format for the 2025/26 Champions League

Chelsea faces tough path in 2025 Champions League draw

Chelsea is preparing for a new style of Champions League next season. The competition will use a 36 team league with eight league matches per club, four at home and four away. Chelsea sit in Pot 1 for the draw which is set for August 28 in Switzerland. By then 29 teams will have qualified and seven more will reach the group stage through the play offs that begin next week. The format shifts the focus from traditional groups to a single table where the eight fixtures will determine who reaches the knockout rounds. The draw will also shape Chelsea's calendar as the league phase unfolds from September with the league table deciding the knockout entrants.

Chelsea cannot face Manchester City or Liverpool from Pot 1, which changes the risk profile of the draw. The line up of the other pots will mix heavyweights with emerging teams, meaning Chelsea still faces a challenging set of opponents even before the knockout rounds. The process is expected to deliver a wide range of possible paths through the group stage and keep fans guessing as the eight fixtures are scheduled across the autumn and winter months.

The shift to a bigger pool of clubs alters both strategy and optics for Europe’s top clubs. Teams must plan for more midweek games, longer travel, and a tighter calendar that tests squad depth and rotation. For Chelsea, the new layout heightens the importance of smart squad management and resilience as the season unfolds. The draw will not only determine a path through the group stage but also influence transfer plans and fixture pacing across domestic and continental competitions.

Even with Pot 1 protections against certain rivals, Chelsea faces a tough mix of opponents in the other pots. The absence of City and Liverpool from the top pot reduces one level of immediate risk, but the combined strength of Europe still promises a hard route. As the play offs decide the final cast, Chelsea and its supporters will watch closely how the calendar and the opposition align, shaping expectations for the year ahead.

Highlights

As the draw nears, the work begins on the training ground and in the planning rooms.