Teams in Champions League knockouts: Live standings, list of clubs qualified for knockout rounds in 2025/26

5 days agoLast Updated: 28 January، 2026

We’re at crunch time in the UEFA Champions League as teams battle it out for a place in the knockouts.

There is just one more matchday remaining in the league phase and only a handful of sides have been eliminated from contention for at least a spot in the knockout-stage playoff round.

With all games kicking off at the same time on Wednesday, it’s sure to be a frenetic scramble to go through.

Here is a run-down of how things look in terms of teams qualifying for the Round of 16.

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Teams in Champions League knockouts 2025/26

The top eight teams in the league-phase table qualify directly to the Round of 16, bypassing the playoff round completely.

It’s an extremely coveted position as those sides not only avoid the peril of a playoff matchup but are also seeded in the Round of 16 draw, so they will be partnered with an opponent that finished lower in the table.

After matchday seven in 2025/26, Arsenal and Bayern Munich were the only teams to have mathematically guaranteed a bye to the Round of 16. Several other teams are guaranteed at least a playoff spot.

Teams qualified for Champions League Round of 16

Arsenal
Bayern Munich
Real Madrid*
Liverpool*
Tottenham Hotspur*
Paris Saint-Germain*
Newcastle United*
Chelsea*
Sporting CP*
Barcelona*
Manchester City*
Atletico Madrid*
Atalanta*
Inter Milan*
Juventus*

*Guaranteed at least a knockout-phase playoff place. Not yet qualified automatically for Round of 16.

Teams qualified for Champions League knockout playoffs

Below the top eight Round of 16 byes, the next 16 clubs qualify to the knockout-round playoffs.

Positions 9-16 will be seeded in the playoff-round draw and will have the preferred second-leg home match, while positions 17-24 are unseeded.

Prior to matchday seven of the league phase, only the below five teams — Arsenal, Bayern Munich, PSG, Manchester City, and Atalanta — were certain of at least a knockout-playoff place.

Teams in Champions League knockout playoffs 2025/26

Club	Nation
Paris Saint-Germain	France
Manchester City	England
Atalanta	Italy
Atletico Madrid	Spain
Inter Milan	Italy
Liverpool	England
Real Madrid	Spain
Sporting CP	Portugal
Tottenham	England
Chelsea	England
Newcastle United	England
Barcelona	Spain
Juventus	Italy

Teams eliminated from Champions League 2025/26

On matchweek seven, only four teams had their interest in the competition completely ended, meaning 30 of the 36 competitors still have something at stake on January 28.