UEFA has officially declared a significant revamp to the Champions League format, effective from the 2024/25 season. The primary modification involves the elimination of the existing group stage system, with an expanded participation of 36 clubs, up from the current 32, in a single-league competition.
Under the newly unveiled structure, each participating team will engage in eight matches against eight different opponents, with half of these encounters taking place at home and the remaining half away. This alteration is geared towards diversifying the range of opponents and intensifying the competitiveness of the matches.
An exciting new era for European club football awaits 🤩
Here’s how the #UCL will look from 2024/25 👇 pic.twitter.com/mEffFOpX2O
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 4, 2024
The top eight teams in this league will automatically qualify for the round of 16, while teams finishing between 9th and 24th will engage in a two-legged knockout phase play-off. Teams placed from 25th downward will face elimination from the competition, without the opportunity to transition to the UEFA Europa League.
In addition, UEFA disclosed that the pairings for the knockout phase will be partly influenced by the rankings from the league phase, offering a clearer pathway for teams to reach the final. The midweek schedule for the matches will be maintained, with the final still scheduled to take place on a Saturday at a neutral venue selected by UEFA.