UEFA Champions League Revamp: New Format for 2024/25 Season

UEFA Champions League Revamp: New Format for 2024/25 Season

UEFA announced a major Champions League format overhaul for 2024/25. The biggest change is the increase from 32 to 36 clubs and the introduction of a league phase instead of a group round. This change increases each team’s opponent pool to boost the tournament’s appeal and competitiveness.

Each side will play eight matches against eight clubs, four home and four away, in the new format. This replaces the previous six-match home-and-away schedule against three different opponents. Top eight league clubs advance to the elimination stage. Nineth to 24th place teams will play a two-legged playoff to reach the last 16. The bottom 12 will be eliminated.

In addition to more matches, the new format will stretch the league phase to January from December. Champions League matches will be played in designated weeks to avoid overlap with other European competitions. The league phase will have 189 matches instead of 125.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said the modifications will make games more interesting and diversified and maximize Europe’s top teams’ participation. The league phase draw will occur on August 29, 2024, and the final fixture list on August 31.

The new format will also change match scheduling to Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. This change streamlines the football calendar and organizes competition.

The extension of the Champions League will affect other UEFA club tournaments. The Europa League and the rebranded UEFA Conference League will have 36 clubs each and comparable league-phase procedures. These reforms should give European club football a new look and extend the top-tier season.