With Arsenal qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stage, fans and pundits alike are eager to find out who they will face in the upcoming competition.

The group stage draw, set to take place on Thursday 31 August, will be a crucial event, defining Arsenal’s path in the prestigious tournament.

This article details everything you need to know about the draw, the teams involved, the draw’s workings, and how you can watch it unfold.

Key points

• The UEFA Champions League group stage draw will occur on Thursday 31 August, featuring 32 teams, including Arsenal. The draw will be held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco and will be streamed live on UEFA.com.
• The draw includes the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle, and other leading European clubs, with Newcastle returning to the group stage for the first time since 2002/03.
• The 2023/24 UEFA Champions League final will be hosted at London’s Wembley Stadium on Saturday 1 June, a location famed as the ‘Home of Football’.

When and where is the Champions League group stage draw?

The group stage draw for the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League will take place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

After three years away from this prestigious location, the ceremony will begin at 18:00 CET on Thursday 31 August.

Fans can catch all the action as it’s streamed live on UEFA.com.

Which teams are in the group stage draw?

The 32 teams involved in the draw include the 26 automatic qualifiers, as well as the six play-off round winners to be confirmed on 30 August.

The clubs will be split into four seeding pots, with further details to be announced on the morning of the draw.

From the English contingent, there’s Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Newcastle, who are back in the group stage for the first time since 2002/03.

Other notable clubs include Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Dortmund, Inter Milan, and more.

How does the group stage draw work?

The teams will be split into four seeding pots, with Pot 1 consisting of the holders, the UEFA Europa League winners, and six domestic champions.

Pots 2 to 4 will be determined by the club coefficient rankings, with no team being able to face a side from their own association.

What’s next after the draw?

Following the draw, fixtures will be confirmed, leading up to the first matchday on 19/20 September 2023.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the round of 16, while the third-placed sides will transfer to the UEFA Europa League knockout round play-offs.

Additional highlights of the draw ceremony

The event will also feature the presentation of the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year, Women’s Player of the Year, Men’s Coach of the Year, Women’s Coach of the Year awards, and the 2023 UEFA President’s Award by Aleksander Čeferin.

The venue for the 2023/24 final

The final of the UEFA Champions League will take place at London’s Wembley Stadium, known as the ‘Home of Football’, on Saturday 1 June.

Wembley, which has hosted seven previous European Cup finals, is set to make history once more with this prestigious event.