As the summer winds down, excitement builds for the UEFA Champions League league phase draw scheduled for Thursday, August 27. This year's draw promises to set the stage for a thrilling tournament, with a lineup that includes traditional powerhouses and a few surprises.

Key Details:

• Date of Draw: Thursday, August 27 at 12 p.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
• Teams Already Qualified: 32 teams are confirmed, including:
  • England: Aston Villa, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool
  • Italy: Inter, Napoli, Roma, Como
  • Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis
  • Germany: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Stuttgart
  • France: Paris Saint-Germain, Lens, Lille
  • Others: Teams from the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Czechia, Turkiye, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Norway, and Austria.

Among the notable entrants, Paris Saint-Germain arrives as the reigning champion, while last season's finalists Arsenal aim for redemption. Barcelona and Bayern Munich, both semifinalists last year, remain key contenders.

Exciting New Faces:

• Sabah made headlines by breaking Qarabag's dominance in the Azerbaijan Premier League, marking their first-ever Champions League appearance.
• LASK achieved a remarkable comeback against Celtic, securing their place in the tournament after a 3-0 deficit.

Final Qualification Matches:

On the day of the draw, four critical qualification matches will determine the last spots:

• AEK Athens vs. Levski Sofia (0-0 aggregate)
• Lyon vs. Fenerbahce (1-1 aggregate)
• Viking vs. Dinamo Zagreb (2-2 aggregate)
• Celje vs. Slovan Bratislava (1-1 aggregate)

Tanner Tessman, an American player for Lyon, aims to contribute significantly and join fellow countrymen in the tournament, including Ricardo Pepi and Sergino Dest at PSV.

The excitement is palpable as teams prepare for the draw, promising a thrilling Champions League season ahead.