The New and Groundbreaking Champions League Format
The new UEFA Champions League format, set to take effect from the 2024/25 season, represents a significant transformation in the competition's structure, marking the most profound changes in 21 years. Here’s a summary of the key points:
1. Increase in Teams: The competition will expand from 32 to 36 teams. This will allow more European clubs to participate in the league, broadening opportunities for teams from less represented leagues to compete in the main phase.
2. League Phase: The traditional group stage will be replaced by a league phase. All teams will compete in a single standings table, playing eight matches against different opponents selected through a computerized draw system. This phase is inspired by the "Swiss format," where each team faces eight different rivals, two from each pot.
3. Knockout Stage: The top eight teams from the league phase will automatically qualify for the round of 16. Teams ranked between 9th and 24th place will play in a playoff round to determine who advances to the round of 16. Teams ranked 25th and below will be eliminated from the competition.
4. Schedule: Matches will continue to be played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with some additional dates on Thursdays. The league phase will extend from September to February, followed by the traditional knockout rounds.
5. Qualification and Slot Distribution: UEFA has designed the qualification system to be more inclusive, allowing more teams from smaller leagues the chance to compete. The four additional slots will be allocated to:
- The third-placed team in the league ranked fifth in the UEFA rankings.
- An additional team from the champions' path.
- Two teams from the leagues with the best performance in the previous season.
This new format aims not only to increase competitiveness but also to offer more exciting matches from the early stages of the competition, providing fans with more encounters between Europe's top teams. UEFA has also emphasized its commitment to solidarity and sporting merit, ensuring that all qualified teams earn their place through their performance in their domestic leagues.
