Sixteen clubs qualified for the knockout phase of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League: eight that finished in the top half of the league phase table and eight that survived a two-legged play-off. From that point every tie was played home and away, in single elimination, until two clubs remained for the final in Budapest on 30 May 2026. This page traces the bracket stage by stage.
Knockout Play-Off: 17/18 and 24/25 February 2026
The 16 clubs finishing between 9th and 24th place played two legs across 17/18 February and 24/25 February 2026. Pairings were decided by league phase position, with the higher-placed club hosting the second leg. Eight winners advanced and eight were eliminated, with aggregate scores rather than away-goals counting in the 2025-26 competition. Paris Saint-Germain, 11th in the league phase, played their way through this round and moved on to the round of 16 with home advantage in the second leg.
Round of 16: 10/11 and 17/18 March 2026
The round of 16 was contested on 10/11 March and 17/18 March 2026. The eight clubs that finished 1st to 8th in the league phase were seeded ahead of the eight play-off winners, and seeded clubs hosted the second leg at home. Arsenal entered this round directly from the top of the table, having lost no league phase match, and continued their campaign into the quarter-finals.
Quarter-Finals: 7/8 and 14/15 April 2026
The quarter-finals took place on 7/8 April and 14/15 April 2026, cutting the field from 16 clubs to eight. Clubs finishing between 9th and 24th in the league phase were still alive at this stage.
Semi-Finals: 28/29 April and 5/6 May 2026
The semi-finals were played on 28/29 April and 5/6 May 2026. Four clubs remained, playing two legs each, and the two winners advanced to the Puskás Aréna. PSG completed their semi-final tie to reach a first appearance in the final under the league phase format, having started the knockout rounds outside the top eight.
The Final: PSG 1-1 Arsenal, 4-3 on Penalties
The final on 30 May 2026 produced the closest finish of the season. Kai Havertz scored for Arsenal in the sixth minute and Ousmane Dembélé equalised from the penalty spot in the 65th, leaving the score at 1-1 after 120 minutes. PSG won the shootout 4-3: Gonçalo Ramos, Désiré Doué, Achraf Hakimi and Lucas Beraldo all converted, while Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhães failed for Arsenal, the latter sending his kick over the bar on the fifth attempt.
PSG’s Route from 11th Place to the Trophy
- League phase — 11th place, inside the play-off cohort.
- Knockout play-off — two legs in February, advanced to the round of 16.
- Round of 16 — two legs in March, progressed to the quarter-finals.
- Quarter-finals — two legs in April, reached the semi-finals.
- Semi-finals — two legs across April and May, reached the final.
- Final — 1-1 after extra time, 4-3 on penalties, champions.
Arsenal reached the same final without losing a league phase match. The tie sheet for the full season fixture list and the league phase table are both available on this site.