Major changes are on the horizon for the UEFA Champions League starting from the 2024/25 season, marking the end of the long-standing four-team group stage format. This transformation is the most significant in 32 years, with the last edition of the current format won by Real Madrid, who claimed their 15th European title by defeating Borussia Dortmund.
The new format introduces a league phase, changes in qualification slots, and an increase in the number of games, fundamentally altering Europe’s premier football competition. Here’s a detailed look at what’s to come:
How Many Teams Will Participate in the New Format? The new UEFA Champions League format will see 36 teams in the league phase, an increase of four clubs compared to the previous setup. Serie A and the Bundesliga benefit the most, each gaining an additional automatic qualification spot, bringing their total to five—one more than the Premier League and La Liga. This change reflects the strong performances by Italian and German clubs in UEFA competitions, which boosted their coefficient points.
Germany and Italy now have five slots each, while Spain and England have four. France is allocated three slots, with the Netherlands and Portugal receiving two each. The champions of Belgium, Scotland, Austria, and Ukraine each secure a place, with the remaining spots determined through qualifying rounds. Real Madrid’s automatic qualification for winning the Champions League passes to Shakhtar Donetsk, the next best domestic champion, as Real Madrid also qualified by winning La Liga. Similarly, Atalanta’s Europa League victory spot goes to Benfica, given Atalanta qualified through Serie A.
The League Phase The traditional eight-group format will be replaced by a single table of 36 teams. A computer-generated draw will replace the old manual draw, determining eight fixtures for each team. The teams will be seeded and split into four pots, each facing two opponents from each pot, with one home and one away game. The league phase will run from September to January, slightly extending the current group stage timeline.
The first game week will exclusively feature Champions League matches, including Thursday games, while Tuesday and Wednesday matches will continue as they have in previous seasons. All fixtures in the final game week will kick off simultaneously. The new format will see an increase in Champions League games from 125 to 189, with each team playing eight league-phase matches, adding 48 games. The remaining 16 games will come from a playoff to reach the round of 16.
The Knockout Phase In the new format, the top eight teams from the league phase will automatically advance to the round of 16. Teams finishing 9th to 24th will enter a two-legged playoff to qualify for the knockout stages. These playoffs will be seeded, with teams placed 9th-16th hosting the second leg against those in 17th-24th.
The round of 16 will follow the traditional two-legged knockout format, with automatic qualifiers playing the second leg at home. After the playoffs, the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final will maintain the established two-legged format. The new setup promises more high-stakes clashes from the outset, with top teams encountering formidable opponents earlier in the competition.
Conclusion The revamped Champions League format promises a more exciting and inclusive experience for fans and clubs alike. The new model offers increased exposure and a longer path to glory, ensuring that the competition will be fiercer than ever. Whether these changes lead to more unpredictable outcomes or continued dominance by a select few remains to be seen. The 2024/25 season will undoubtedly be fascinating to watch as the new format unfolds.