New format for the UEFA Champions League draw

The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League will see a new draw format with 36 teams competing for the most sought-after club competition for teams based in Europe.

Starting from the 2024/25 season, the UEFA Champions League will feature a revamped format, expanding from 32 to 36 participating teams.

The key changes in the new Champions League format

(1) Single League Stage: The traditional group stage is replaced by a single league phase, where all 36 teams compete against each other in a unified table.

(2) Eight Matches: Each team will play eight matches against eight different opponents, with four home games and four away games, ensuring a diverse range of fixtures.

( 3 ) New Knockout Phase: The top eight teams in the league table will qualify directly for the round of 16. Teams finishing between 9th and 24th will compete in a two-legged playoff to secure their spot in the knockout phase.

(4) Increased Matches: The new format increases the total number of matches from 125 to 189, with the ultimate winners playing 17 games across the competition.

Everything you need to know about the new Champions League draw;

(1) It will be an automatic draw with software implemented to conduct the draw, placing these teams against each other.

(2) Each team will face two teams from each of the four pots, with four matches played at home and the remaining four played away.

(3) One team can play a maximum of two teams from the same country in the League Phase.

These changes aim to increase competition, unpredictability, and excitement in the UEFA Champions League while providing more opportunities for teams to compete against diverse opponents.