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UEFA Applies New Rule to Stop Same Match Being Held in Same Stadium Three Years Running

The automated phase‑of‑league draw enforced a ban on three consecutive stadium repeats to reassign home venues for potential repeat fixtures.

Time do Internacional
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Overview

  • UEFA used its automated draw system on Thursday, August 27, 2026, to run the 36‑team phase‑of‑league draws while enforcing a condition that forbids the same two teams playing an individual phase‑of‑league match at the same stadium for a third straight season.
  • The stadium‑repeat rule changes who would host certain high‑profile repeats so that, if drawn, Liverpool cannot host Real Madrid at Anfield, Inter cannot host Arsenal at San Siro, and Benfica could not face Juventus in Turin for a third consecutive phase‑of‑league meeting.
  • Playoff rounds finished on August 26 and sealed the 36 participants for the Champions League phase‑of‑league, with clubs such as AEK, Fenerbahçe, Slovan Bratislava and Viking taking the final spots ahead of the draw.
  • Benfica confirmed its place in the Europa League phase‑of‑league by beating Aarhus 3–1 in the playoff second leg, a match in which Gianluca Prestianni scored twice and coach Marco Silva publicly praised his progress.
  • The automated draw enforces existing limits that already prevent same‑country pairings and cap opponents from one federation, a mechanism that will shape which clubs play home or away and could alter travel, ticketing and commercial plans for affected teams and fans.