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

We’ve reached the knockout phase of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League season and the 24 teams remaining the 2026 UCL Bracket will battle it out for the chance to be club champions of Europe. It’s the world’s biggest club soccer competition and the bracket goes live on February 27. Complete your 2026 Champions League brackets and enter UCL bracket pools on CBSSports.com and on the CBS Sports app.

Much like an NCAA Tournament bracket pool, you’ll pick which teams you think will advance at each stage of the Champions League bracket, and points will be awarded for each pick you get right. 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 a great option to get set up. 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.

Bayern Munich: The champions of the Bundesliga in 12 of the last 13 seasons, Bayern Munich has also opened up a six-point lead domestically and they’re the No. 2 seed in the UCL Knockout phase after winning seven of eight matches in the league phase. They won the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup and were also Champions League winners that same season, making them four-time champions of Europe. Harry Kane has scored 38 goals in 33 matches across all competitions this season and he’s added eight goals in eight matches for England during international play. Join the 2026 UCL Bracket Game here.