- The UEFA Champions League is set to expand to 36 teams from the 2024/25 season, introducing a new league phase format
- The number of Champions League matches will increase from 125 to 189, with 48 additional games in the league phase and 16 in a new playoff round
- The tournament will now feature a single table of 36 teams, with the top eight automatically advancing to the round of 16 and teams finishing 9th-24th entering a playoff
The UEFA Champions League is poised for its biggest format overhaul in 32 years, introducing a new structure for the 2024/25 season and beyond. Since the tournament's transformation from the European Cup to the Champions League in 1992, the group stage format has been integral, with four teams per group facing each other both home and away.
While the group stage structure has undergone tweaks over the years, the current format of 32 teams divided into eight groups, with the top two progressing to the knockout stage, has been consistent for the last 20 years.
UEFA makes new changes to European matches
Starting from the 2024/25 season, the competition will expand to 36 teams in the league phase, allowing four more clubs to compete at Europe’s elite level.
Serie A and the Bundesliga have emerged as the biggest winners of this change, each securing five automatic qualification spots. This advantage comes from their strong showings in UEFA competitions last season, outpacing even the Premier League and La Liga, who retain four automatic slots.
The total number of Champions League matches will rise from 125 to 189, with 48 of those games taking place in the newly introduced league phase.
Each team will play eight matches, increasing the minimum number of games for each participant by two.
Additionally, a further 16 games will follow the league phase in the form of a two-legged playoff to secure a spot in the round of 16.
Depending on their position in the league phase, finalists could end up playing either 15 or 17 games, compared to the 13 matches in the current format.
The new structure will eliminate the traditional eight-group setup and replace it with a single table of 36 teams.
The draw, now automated due to the increased complexity, will determine the eight fixtures for each team.
Teams will be seeded into four pots, and each club will face two opponents from each pot, one home and one away, ensuring a balanced distribution of tough matches.
The top eight teams in the league phase will automatically qualify for the round of 16, while those finishing 9th-24th will enter a two-legged playoff for the remaining spots.
Playoff matchups will be seeded, with teams finishing 9th-16th hosting the second leg against those placed 17th-24th.
The round of 16 will follow a similar seeding pattern, with automatic qualifiers enjoying home advantage in the second leg. Once the playoff rounds are settled, the tournament will continue with the familiar two-legged knockout stages through to the final.
This revamped format will likely result in more early clashes between Europe’s top clubs, as teams from pot 1 are no longer guaranteed to avoid each other. This promises an even more interesting competition from 2024 onwards.
Several fans all over the world are looking to see how this will benefit their respective clubs. Nonetheless, this structure seems even more fair than the old existing format.
Madrid’s new boy Mbappe sets lofty goals after scoring on debut against Atalanta
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Mbappé, who arrived at Madrid on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, put pen to paper on a five-year deal, concluding a highly anticipated transfer saga.
