How to run a 2026 UEFA Champions League bracket pool: Play for a dream trip, design your picks contest

Champions League is widely considered the top club tournament in soccer, and the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 begins on March 10 and March 11. The 2026 Champions League bracket is now live, and similar to the buzz that’s created around NCAA Tournament brackets, many will flock to create their 2026 UCL bracket and debate who to crown their winner in Champions League bracket pools.

Reigning champion PSG failed to secure one of the top eight spots, leaving their fate to be determined by the knockout round. No team since Real Madrid, which won three straight from 2016-18, has even won back-to-back UCL titles, so how should that affect forming a 2026 Champions League bracket strategy? You can create Champions League pools of your own to compete against friends and family, and enter your picks into the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Challenge for a chance to win a trip to London, including tickets to a UCL match and a tour of the UCL Today set. With the action so close, now is the time to set up your 2026 UEFA Champions League pool.

If you’re looking for a UCL bracket game home, CBS Sports is the perfect platform to use. You can play Bracket Games on the CBS Sports App for free and you could win big prizes.* Sign up right here.

How to create a 2026 UEFA Champions League pool with friends and family

There is a CBS Sports UEFA Champions League Bracket Challenge giving you the chance to win a trip to London to watch a UCL match and tour the UCL Today set. It’s easy to qualify for this epic trip. Simply click this link, click the “Join Now” button and enter.* Fill out your UEFA Champions League bracket before Round of 16 play begins.

Once you’ve entered CBS Sports UEFA Champions League Bracket Game, you can also set up your own 2026 UCL pools on CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app. When you go to the website, hover your mouse over the Fantasy tab until you find the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Games logo.

Click on that logo to be redirected to the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Games page. Once you’re logged in, you’ll see a “Create Pool” button to click on and once you’ve finished choosing your UCL bracket pool settings, you’ll be able to copy the URL and send it to your friends and family.

2026 UEFA Champions League Knockout phase teams to watch

Now that you know where to play 2026 UCL Bracket Games, here are some teams to watch as the 2026 Champions League Knockout phase approaches: 

Arsenal FC: The English Premier League leaders won all eight of their matches during the league phase, outscoring their opponents 23-4 in the process to produce the best goal differential in the competition. Arsenal have opened a six-point lead on Manchester City in the EPL, so they’ll still have a somewhat split focus, but this is their best chance yet at notching a UEFA Champions League title. Expect Mikel Arteta to dial in for these matchups and they should be well-rested thanks to the bye that comes with being a top-eight seed.

Manchester City: Manchester City were one of four teams that finished with exactly 16 points over eight UCL league phase contests. After being tied with the lowest goal differential and scoring the fewest goals of the four tied clubs, Manchester City are the No. 8 seed. Luckily for Manchester City, finishing last in the tiebreak didn’t result in a knockout round appearance, but they’ll have a challenging opening matchup in the Round of 16. Manchester City went 5-1-2 in the league phase, and defeated Galatasaray, 2-0, on Matchday 8 to secure a top-eight seed. Manchester City features the top goal-scorer in the Premier League in Erling Haaland, whose 22 goals are five more than any other player. He also scored in six of eight UCL contests, as he’ll be a daunting matchup for any club playing Man City. Join the 2026 UCL Bracket Game here.

How to enter 2026 UEFA Champions League Bracket Games

Sign up now before brackets are unlocked after the Round of 16 Draw. Visit CBSSports.com/UCLBracket or play on the CBS Sports App.

*No purchase necessary. See rules for details.