UEFA Unveils New Champions League Format From 2024-25 Season

Eko Hot Blog reports that UEFA has unveiled a revamped format for the prestigious Champions League competition, which is set to take effect in the 2024–25 season.

The football governing body in Europe emphasized that the revised format prioritizes selection based on “merit,” leading to more high-profile clashes between top teams.

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In a statement released on UEFA’s website on Monday, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin expressed his satisfaction with the unanimous decision, saying, “I am really pleased that it was a unanimous decision of the UEFA Executive Committee, with the European Club Association, European Leagues, and national associations all agreeing with the proposal made. Another proof that European football is more united than ever.”

According to UEFA, the new format will feature the following key changes:

1. Expanded Participation: The Champions League group stage will be replaced by a league phase, featuring 36 clubs instead of the current 32-team format. This provides four additional teams with the opportunity to compete against Europe’s elite.
2. League Phase Structure: The 36 clubs will participate in a unified league competition, with each team playing eight matches against eight different opponents. Half of the matches will be played at home, and the other half away.
3. Seeding and Opponent Selection: Teams will be ranked into four seeding pots, with each club drawn to play against two opponents from each pot, facing one team from each pot at home and one away.
4. Qualification Process: Qualification for the Champions League will continue to be based on a club’s final position in the previous season’s domestic league competition, combined with each association’s position in the UEFA association club coefficient ranking. The four additional spots will be allocated as follows:
   • One spot for the third-placed team in the fifth-ranked association.
   • One spot through an extended Champions path in the qualifying process.
   • Two spots awarded to clubs from associations with the best collective performance by their clubs in the previous season.
5. Knockout Phase Qualification: The top eight teams in the league phase will secure direct qualification to the round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th will participate in a two-legged knockout phase play-off to earn their spot in the last 16.
6. Knockout Phase Format: The knockout phase from the round of 16 onwards will follow the existing format, with pairings partially determined by the league phase rankings.

UEFA TROPHY ON DISPLAY

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UEFA’s new Champions League format aims to increase competitiveness and excitement by ensuring more high-profile matches between top teams during the league phase. The governing body believes this change will enhance the overall quality and appeal of the competition.

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