PARIS, Aug 28(v7n)- The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League will introduce a new format featuring 36 clubs, an increase from the previous 32. This change includes an additional spot for the fifth-best European league, allowing France's Ligue 1 to have three automatic qualifiers. Furthermore, the two leagues with the highest UEFA coefficient rankings from last season, Germany and Italy, will also receive an extra berth. The final additional slot will be filled by a national champion emerging from the qualifying rounds, which are set to conclude this week.

In this revamped format, the traditional group stage has been replaced by a single league phase, where each club will play eight matches against different opponents. The teams will be divided into four seeded pots, and each club will face two teams from each pot, one at home and one away. This new structure aims to enhance the competition by allowing fans to see top teams compete against each other more frequently and earlier in the tournament. The total number of matches will increase significantly from 96 in the old format to 144 in the new league phase.

The competition will maintain its knockout format after the league phase, with the top eight teams automatically advancing to the last 16. A new playoff round will determine the remaining spots, involving teams ranked from 9th to 24th in the league phase. The bottom 12 teams will be eliminated without the opportunity to enter the second-tier Europa League, marking a significant shift in the tournament's structure. This new format is designed to adapt to the evolving landscape of European football and ensure a more competitive and engaging experience for fans and clubs alike.