Champions League draw live updates: format, time, schedule, fixtures and the latest from today’s ceremony in Monaco

And now to the key question: Who developed this mysterious technology?

UEFA has been working on this draw process for almost a year and the software will be provided by AE Live, which was appointed UEFA’s partner for all UEFA draws in September 2023 and has been tasked with developing and testing the software.

And what, you may ask, is AE Live? Well, it is a company that operates in live sports, provides graphics and technology solutions for the industry and has offices in eight countries.

“In terms of our experience, we have our own teams who have extensive experience in delivering live services across a range of sports including cricket, rugby, badminton and even kabaddi,” says Dave Gill, Chief Technology Officer of AE Live. “But we have a particular strength in football, both international and domestic competitions.”

AE Live has been providing draw services for over 20 years, including for the FA Cup, FIFA, the International Olympic Committee and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). “We are uniquely placed to provide this draw solution and support UEFA in this exciting new development,” says Gill.

According to Giorgio Marchetti, UEFA’s director of football and deputy general secretary, global financial services firm Ernst and Young has also been hired to provide “additional security and transparency”. Ernst and Young has audited and supervised the development of the software, and its staff will also monitor and report on the draw processes themselves.