UEFA has announced a new format for its tournaments starting from the 2024-25 season. This change signifies a departure from the traditional style that fans are accustomed to.
Champions League Format Changes
The most significant change is the elimination of the current group stage system. Instead, 36 clubs will participate in a single league competition, allowing for more teams to compete against each other.
Under the new format, teams will play eight matches against eight different opponents, with half of the matches played at home and the other half away. The opponents will be determined based on seeding pots.
Four extra spots in the Champions League group stage will be allocated based on a club’s final position in the domestic league competition and the association’s club coefficient ranking.
Knockout Phase and Seeding
The top eight teams in the league phase will automatically qualify for the round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout phase playoff. Teams will be seeded based on their league phase rankings.
Europa League and Europa Conference League Changes
Similar format changes will also be applied to the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League, with both competitions featuring 36 teams in the league phase.
Calendar and Match Scheduling
Matches will be played between September and January, with each competition having one exclusive matchweek. Champions League matches will be played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, while Europa League and Europa Conference League matches will be held on Thursdays.
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