The final matchday of the UEFA Champions League league phase will feature 18 matches all kicking off simultaneously at 21:00 CET. This arrangement stems from a revamped 36-team format introduced for the 2024/25 season, which replaced the traditional group stage with a single league table. The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while teams finishing between 9th and 24th enter a knockout playoff round. The rule aims to prevent gamesmanship, a problem that scarred the 1982 FIFA World Cup when West Germany and Austria played a match with no competitive stakes. The final matchday is scheduled for 28 January 2026 and 27 January 2027.
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