This overview lists the eight teams that will sit in Pot 1 for the Champions League draw. It outlines how the seedings are determined, what factors influence the group stage layout, and which clubs currently hold top seed status heading into the 2023-2024 campaign.
The Champions League for the 2023-2024 season is already in motion. The initial steps include the forthcoming draw, scheduled for Thursday, August 31, which will reveal the structure of the group stage and how the groups will be formed. The competition remains the pinnacle of club football, aiming to crown a new champion after Manchester City secured their first Champions League title during the final played in Turkey against Inter Milan.
Guide to the 2023-2024 Champions League: when it starts, qualified teams, draws, format and calendar
Seeds for the 2023-2024 Champions League group stage: who they are, why they are seeded, and how the seedings are decided
The eight seeded clubs come from the champions of the top UEFA coefficient leagues over several seasons, combined with the defending Champions League champions and the reigning Europa League winners. Because Manchester City hold both the Champions League title and the domestic league trophy, the next-best UEFA coefficient league’s champion from the pool—that is Benfica from Portugal—gains a seeded position to ensure eight Pot 1 entrants. This keeps the balance of the seedings and maintains competitive integrity across the draw.
Preview and play-off Champions League 2023-2024: teams, knockouts, fixtures, results and which teams qualify for the group stage
How the draw drums for the group stage of the Champions League are prepared
The drum system for the group stage draw follows the UEFA ranking framework. This ranking evaluates European clubs based on the UEFA coefficient, derived from results in continental competition over the previous five seasons. The method ensures a transparent distribution of teams across pots and keeps the process consistent with past practice.
In Pot 1 there is no ranking-based criterion for placement beyond the current holders and the top seeds. The eight members of Pot 1 and the seeded leaders consist of the champion from the previous season, the Europa League winner, and the league champions from the major European nations (Spain, England, Germany, Italy, France, Portugal, and the Netherlands), reflecting ongoing performance and historical success in European tournaments.
Seeds in the 2023/24 Champions League draw
The eight seeded teams, the ones positioned in Pot 1, have been confirmed and are listed below for reference in this overview. They represent the combination of last season’s continental champions and the strongest domestic winners across Europe.
- Manchester City (Champions League title holders)
- Sevilla (Europa League winners)
- Barcelona
- Bayern Munich
- PSG
- Benfica
- Napoli
- Feyenoord
These selections reflect the framework used by UEFA to seed the top pot in the group stage draw, balancing current success with ongoing prestige across European football. The seedings, while dynamic, follow a consistent logic that keeps the competition fair and exciting for fans across North America and the rest of the world. (Goal)