Explained: How Does The New UEFA Champions League Format Works? Everything You Need To Know

The UEFA Champions League is all set to undergo a major change in its format with the 2024-25 season as an entirely different format is being implemented. The new changes to the format will feature increased number of teams from 32 to 36, increased number of matches for each side and an additional round of knockout games.

While UEFA hopes their expanded product will add more competition, drama, excitement and prestige to the competition. Here is everything you need to know about the new UEFA Champions League format starting from September. 

To understand how the new format works, will differ from the old format and what kind of effect it will have on players, first we need to understand the previous UEFA Champions League Format.

How the previous UEFA Champions League format worked?

In the previous UEFA Champions League format Europe’s top 32 teams used to participate each year in Group Stages and eventually qualify to knockout rounds. The 32 teams kick start their campaign through the group stages where there were 8 groups of 4 teams each. In the group stage each team played twice against their group member. A total of 6 games played by every team.

Once the group stages were concluded the top two teams from every group progresses to the knockout phase. The third placed team in every group is demoted to the second tier inter-continental competition of Europe the UEFA Europa League.

In the first round of knockout stages the top seed teams were drawn against the second seed teams for the two legged tie of the Round of 16. Teams play two matches one at home and one away and at the end of the two games the team that wins on aggregate score progresses to the next round.

Each of the Round of 16, Quarterfinal and Semi Final ties have two legged encounters while the final is a one off encounter played  at a neutral venue. A total of 125 games are played in the current UCL format. Each team plays a minimum of 6 games in the competition while the team that reaches the final plays 13 games in the tournament.

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How the New UEFA Champions League format changes things?

The new UCL format has brought massive changes to the biggest club competition in the world. As part of the changes brought to the table the 32 team competition is now being expanded to 36 teams. The new club format takes after the Swiss Model of tournaments in which all the teams will be placed in one league table. In this model despite the singular league each team

The league fixtures will be decided by a draw before the season. In the modified format each team will play a total of 8 games in the league phase. Four of those games will be played at home while four away.

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During the draw, the teams from the same leagues won’t be drawn against each other but the teams that will have more than four representatives might have to play one game against their domestic rivals.

At the end of the group stage the top eight teams will directly progress to the round of 16. The teams from 9 to 24 will have to play a playoff match to seal their birth for the round of 16. From Round of 16 onwards the current knockout format will be followed.