Champions League Gets a Fresh Look with New Format

The Champions League gets a fresh look with more teams playing for more prize money from more games against more opponents. The draw was held Thursday.

New Format

UEFA has long been pressured by club officials to deliver more from the marquee event in club soccer and it settled on a new single-standings league phase to replace the traditional group stage.

The first new Champions League format since 2003 promises almost everything Europe’s wealthiest and most influential clubs wanted.

Key Changes

There are four more places in a 36-team lineup; at least eight games each instead of six; Champions League games scheduled in January for the first time; a prize money rise of at least 25% to a minimum 2.5 billion euros ($2.8 billion).

Matchups

The new-look competition will feature a series of rematches of recent finals.

Among defending champion Real Madrid’s opponents are Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund. The Spaniards beat Dortmund in last season’s final and Liverpool for the titles in 2022 and 2018. Madrid will host Dortmund and travel to Liverpool, though the match dates are not confirmed until Saturday.

Manchester City also gets a Champions League final reunion — hosting Inter Milan which it beat to win its European title in 2023. Bayern Munich will host Paris Saint-Germain in a rematch of the 2020 final that the German giant won 1-0.

How Does the New Format Work?

Out goes the traditional group-stage format that the Champions League used for 21 seasons.

The 32 teams would be drawn into eight groups of four each playing six games. Teams played each group opponent home and away from September into December. The top two advanced to the round of 16. A separate draw was made for each knockout round of home-and-away games until the single-game final.

In comes a single-standings league — 36 teams each playing eight games against eight different opponents through January. Teams get a balanced schedule facing two opponents from each of four seeding pots.

The top eight in the standings go direct to the round of 16 in March. They will be seeded in a tennis-style tournament bracket with no separate draws for each round until the final. The 2025 final is at Bayern Munich’s stadium.

Teams ranked ninth to 24th go into a knockout playoffs round in February. The bottom 12 teams are eliminated.

Why Change the Format?

The simple answer is clubs wanted more money.

The Champions League showcases the highest quality play in world soccer. It has let UEFA steer billions of euros (dollars) of prize money raised from global broadcasting and sponsor deals to clubs who pay the highest transfer fees and salaries.

Those clubs also wanted to play more of what they regarded as prestige games against a bigger range of high-quality opponents.

What are the Upsides and Risks of the New Format?

The 36 teams are guaranteed more money and brand-building exposure to a global audience. Players should get more higher-quality games to accelerate their development.

The extra games — 189 total in the competition compared to 125 for the past two decades — can confirm the Champions League as the pinnacle of club soccer.

Two extra match rounds in January gives the Champions League a new foothold in the increasingly packed soccer calendar. Though, could it overload players after many looked fatigued at the 2024 European Championship, and ahead of FIFA launching its month-long Club World Cup next June?

Conclusion

The new Champions League format is a significant change from the traditional group-stage format. The increased number of teams, games, and prize money are expected to benefit the clubs and players involved. However, there are concerns about the potential overload of players and the impact on the competition’s overall quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is UEFA changing the Champions League format?
A: UEFA is changing the Champions League format to provide more opportunities for teams to play each other and to increase the prize money.

Q: How will the new format work?
A: The new format will feature a single-standings league with 36 teams playing eight games against eight different opponents through January. The top eight teams will advance directly to the round of 16, while teams ranked ninth to 24th will participate in a knockout playoffs round.

Q: What are the benefits of the new format?
A: The new format is expected to provide more opportunities for teams to play each other, increase the prize money, and accelerate player development.

Q: Are there any risks associated with the new format?
A: There are concerns about the potential overload of players and the impact on the competition’s overall quality.