The 2026–27 Champions League league phase draw was held in Monaco on August 27. According to UEFA’s official results, 36 teams will take part in this league phase, with each team playing eight different opponents—four matches at home and four away. Korean football fans will be watching Lee Kang-in’s matchup with Kim Min-jae, as well as the broader Korean-player presence in the main tournament, which has expanded from last season.
Key Change: Lee Kang-in and Kim Min-jae’s Teams Were Drawn to Face Each Other
In UEFA’s official draw, Atlético de Madrid was assigned Bayern Munich among its home opponents. Bayern Munich, in turn, had Atlético de Madrid listed among its away opponents. Based on the draw, a matchup between Lee Kang-in’s Atlético and Kim Min-jae’s Bayern has therefore been established.
However, confirmation of a team fixture does not mean that both players will necessarily appear in the same match. Actual availability may change depending on registration status, the transfer window, and injuries. The currently confirmed fact is that the two teams will meet in the league phase; the starting lineups and player appearances must be checked through separate official announcements.
The official draw confirms a matchup between Atlético and Bayern; it does not confirm that the two Korean players will appear together in the match.
Current Status: The Four Korean Players’ Clubs Need to Be Rechecked
News1 reported that four Korean players—Kim Min-jae, Lee Kang-in, Hwang In-beom, and Lee Han-beom—will compete in the 2026–27 UCL main tournament. The Korean-player contingent this season has been described as doubling from two players last season to four. That is why Lee Kang-in’s new challenge, Hwang In-beom’s return to Porto, and Lee Han-beom’s first main-tournament campaign with Club Brugge are being discussed together.
The players’ current clubs are as follows.
| Player | Current club | Confirmed change |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Kang-in | Atlético de Madrid | Transferred in July 2026; contract through June 30, 2031 |
| Kim Min-jae | Bayern Munich | Official matchup established with Atlético |
| Hwang In-beom | FC Porto | Transferred from Feyenoord in July 2026 |
| Lee Han-beom | Club Brugge | Transferred from FC Midtjylland in August 2026 |
Lee Kang-in signed with Atlético de Madrid, and the club’s official profile lists him as a midfielder for the 2026–27 season. UEFA’s Atlético de Madrid squad page also registers him as a Korean midfielder.
Hwang In-beom left Feyenoord to join FC Porto. UEFA’s FC Porto squad page registers Hwang In-beom as a Korean midfielder. Therefore, even if his former club Feyenoord remains in search results, Porto should be used when describing his current Champions League club.
Lee Han-beom transferred from FC Midtjylland to Belgium’s Club Brugge. UEFA’s Club Brugge KV squad page registers him as a Korean defender. This is why his former club, Midtjylland, should be distinguished from his current club, Club Brugge.
Impact: Interest in Korean Players’ Champions League Campaigns Has Broadened
This draw revealed more than a single matchup. Lee Kang-in has begun a new Champions League challenge at Atlético de Madrid, while Hwang In-beom is set to return to the competition with FC Porto. Lee Han-beom has secured a new route into the main tournament with Club Brugge. With Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae added to the picture, the range of teams and matchups to follow around four Korean players has expanded.
The league phase format also matters. There are 36 participating teams, and each team plays eight different opponents. Because the schedule consists of four home and four away matches, the venue for any particular matchup must be checked against the home-and-away designations in the official draw. For Atlético versus Bayern, the draw confirms that Atlético was assigned Bayern as a home opponent.
Next Checkpoint: Match Dates and Kickoff Times Will Be Announced Separately
Not every scheduling detail was finalized immediately after the draw. UEFA stated that the league phase match dates and kickoff times were scheduled to be announced by Saturday, August 29, 2026. Therefore, the currently confirmed information covers the participating teams, opponents, and home-and-away assignments. The exact date and start time of each match must be checked in UEFA’s subsequent schedule announcement.
Readers should recheck three items.
- Confirm the opponents and home-and-away assignments in UEFA’s official draw.
- Check the match dates and kickoff times announced by UEFA.
- At the time of the match, confirm each player’s registration status and availability through official club or competition announcements.
The biggest confirmed change in this Champions League league phase is that the Korean-player contingent in the main tournament has expanded to four. The Lee Kang-in–Kim Min-jae matchup is included in the official result, but actual player appearances should be checked again after the match schedule and player statuses are released.