Football News Update: Champions League Revamp for 2024/25 Season
The Champions League is set to undergo a major transformation ahead of the 2024/25 season, with significant changes to the format and structure of Europe’s premier club competition.
The most notable change is the increase in the number of matches in the new format, which will rise from 125 to 189. The league phase will now be completed by the end of January, rather than during December, and there will be dedicated weeks in the football calendar exclusively for the Champions League, with no other European competitions played during those periods.
“The winners of the 2024/25 Champions League will have played a total of 17 games across the competition, and matches will be scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, becoming the new norm for Europe’s elite club tournament.”
At least 10 of the 36 clubs participating in the new league phase will come from Italy and Germany, reflecting the strong performance of these leagues in European competitions.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has stated that qualification for the Champions League will be “based on sporting merit” as the competition undergoes its biggest revamp since 1992.
Key Changes in the New Champions League Format:
- Expansion from 32 to 36 teams, with a single league phase replacing the traditional group stage
- Each club will play a minimum of 8 league-stage games against 8 different opponents (4 home, 4 away)
- The top 8 sides in the league will qualify automatically for the knockout stages
- Teams finishing 9th to 24th will compete in a two-legged play-off for the remaining 8 places in the last 16
- Teams ranked 25-36 are eliminated from all competitions
The draw for the new league phase will take place on August 29, 2024, with the first matches kicking off on September 17, 2024. The final will be held at the Allianz Arena in Munich on May 31, 2025.
Similar changes will also be made to the Europa League and Europa Conference League formats, with 36 teams in each competition. The Europa League will have 8 matches against 8 different opponents in the league phase, while the Europa Conference League (renamed the UEFA Conference League) will have 6 matches against 6 different opponents.
This comprehensive overhaul of UEFA’s club competitions is aimed at maintaining the prestige and excitement of European football’s top tournaments, while also providing more opportunities for teams from a broader range of leagues to compete at the highest level.
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