UEFA has announced significant changes to the format of the Champions League, Europe’s premier club football competition, set to take effect from the 2024-25 season.
The new format aims to enhance competitiveness and ensure a fairer playing field for participating teams.
Here’s a breakdown of the key highlights and frequently asked questions surrounding the revamped Champions League:
Key Highlights of the New Format
- Unified League Competition:
- Instead of the traditional group stage, the new format introduces a unified league competition featuring 36 clubs ranked together.
- Each team will play eight matches against eight different opponents, with half of the matches at home and the other half away.
- Allocation of Additional Spots:
- Four extra spots will be allocated for the Champions League group stage, providing more opportunities for clubs to compete at the highest level.
- Qualification for these spots will depend on a club’s final position in the previous season’s domestic league combined with the association’s club coefficient ranking.
- Knockout Phase Structure:
- Teams ranked in the top eight positions in the league phase will secure direct qualification to the round of 16.
- Teams placed between 9th and 24th will participate in a two-legged knockout phase play-off to earn their spot in the last 16.
- The competition will continue with knockout rounds leading to the final, staged at a neutral venue selected by UEFA.
FAQs: Answering Common Questions
1. How are the four extra Champions League group stage spots allocated?
- Slots are awarded based on a club’s final position in the domestic league and the association’s club coefficient ranking. Detailed criteria are outlined for each slot.
2. How will teams reach the Champions League knockout phase, and will the format change?
- Match outcomes in the league phase will determine rankings, with the top eight teams securing direct qualification to the round of 16.
- Teams ranked between 9th and 24th will participate in a knockout phase play-off to advance to the last 16.
3. Will the Europa League and Europa Conference League formats change?
- Yes, adjustments will be made to both tournaments to align with the new Champions League format. Each competition will feature 36 teams in the league phase.
4. How will the calendar look for the new format of the three competitions?
- Matches will be scheduled from September to January, with unique matchweeks for each competition to avoid scheduling conflicts.
