PUNCH
UEFA has announced the new Champions League format, which will come into effect starting from the 2024-25 season.
The football governing body in Europe highlighted that the revised format prioritises selection based on playing “merit,” leading to top teams facing each other more often.
According to a statement released on UEFA’s website on Monday, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, said, “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.”
Below are the highlights of the new format, according to UEFA:
- The current Champions League group stage features 32 teams split into eight groups of four. Starting from the 2024/25 season, 36 clubs are set to take part in the Champions League league phase (formerly known as the group stage), providing four additional teams with the chance to challenge Europe’s top clubs.
- These 36 clubs will take part in a unified league competition where all 36 clubs are ranked together.
- Teams will now compete in eight matches during the league phase, which was previously known as the group stage.
- They are changing their schedule to play against eight different teams, with half of the matches at home and the other half away, instead of playing three opponents twice.
- In order to identify the eight different opponents, the teams will first be ranked into four seeding pots. Every team will be drawn to compete against two opponents from each of these pots, facing one team from each pot at their home stadium and one away.
