UEFA Youth League domestic champions path draw

The 2026/27 UEFA Youth League domestic champions path draw on Tuesday 1 September will set the ties for all three two-legged rounds, eventually producing ten qualifiers for the round of 32.

The full draw procedure and list of entrants will be announced ahead of the ceremony.

Qualification

The domestic champions path includes the domestic youth champions of all the UEFA member associations.

If a club qualifies for both the Champions League path (the 36 clubs in the senior UEFA Champions League) and the domestic champions path, they automatically participate in the Champions League path and the vacancy in the domestic path is, in principle, filled by the runners-up of the same association. If the runners-up also qualify via the Champions League path, the vacancy is not filled.

The domestic champions path consists of three rounds played under the cup (knockout) system, with two-legged ties (home and away matches). The clubs of the top-ranked associations will enter in the second round (exact numbers depending on the level of entrants). At the end of the third round, ten clubs will qualify for the round of 32.

Knockout phase and final four

A single knockout phase will be played, consisting of one-legged ties starting with the round of 32. The clubs ranked 1 to 6 (Champions League path) will play against the clubs ranked 17 to 22. The clubs ranked 7 to 16 will face the ten clubs that qualify via the domestic champions path.

A further open draw will be held for the round of 16 onwards.

The tournament will conclude with a single-venue final four (semi-finals and a final).

Draw and match dates

UEFA Champions League path: league phase
Draw: 27 August
Matchday 1: 8/9/10 September
Matchday 2: 13/14 October
Matchday 3: 20/21 October
Matchday 4: 3/4 November
Matchday 5: 24/25 November
Matchday 6: 8/9 December

Domestic champions path
Draw: 1 September, Nyon
First round first leg: 16 September
First round second leg: 14 October
Second round first leg: 28 October
Second round second leg: 4 November
Third round first leg: 25 November
Third round second leg: 9 December

Knockout phase
Round of 32 draw: 11 December, Nyon
Round of 32: 2/3 February
Knockout draw (round of 16 onwards): 5 February, Nyon
Round of 16: 23/24 February
Quarter-finals: 16/17 March
Semi-finals: 16 April
Final: 19 April