The UEFA Champions League is set to enter a new era in the 2024-25 season, with a major revamp to its format. The tournament will see an increase in participating teams from 32 to 36, all vying for the prestigious title in a single league phase, replacing the traditional group stage format.
The draw for the new format will take place on August 29th, Thursday, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. The 36 clubs will be divided into four pots based on their respective club coefficients, ensuring teams of similar strengths are grouped together. Each team will then be drawn to play against eight different opponents, facing two teams from each pot – one at home and one away.
The league phase will determine the final eight teams qualifying for the knockout rounds. These top performers will secure their place in the round of 16. Meanwhile, teams ranked 9th to 24th will participate in two-legged playoffs to fight for a spot in the round of 16. This ensures the competition remains exciting and competitive until the very end.
The 9th to 16th ranked teams will enjoy a seeding advantage in the playoff draw, guaranteeing them a home advantage in the second leg. The eight winners of the playoffs will then face one of the top-eight finishers, setting the stage for thrilling knockout encounters.
Teams finishing 25th or lower in the league phase will unfortunately be eliminated from the competition. There is no provision for them to enter the UEFA Europa League.
From the round of 16 onwards, the competition will continue with its existing format of knockout rounds culminating in the final, which will be held at a neutral venue chosen by UEFA.
The revamped format is not exclusive to the Champions League. The UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League will also adopt the same structure, with the latter now being known as the UEFA Conference League, starting from the 2024/25 season.
The changes are expected to inject new energy and competitiveness into the Champions League, with more teams having the opportunity to participate and compete for the coveted trophy. The single league phase format promises a dynamic and thrilling spectacle, with teams facing diverse opponents throughout the initial stages. The new format promises to shake up the competition and deliver more exciting football for fans around the world.
