The Champions League has introduced a major restructuring for the 2024-25 season, replacing its traditional group stage with a new single league format featuring 36 teams.
The new format eliminates this structure, instead sending the top eight teams directly to the knockout stage. Teams finishing between 9th and 24th will compete in a two-legged play-off to earn a spot in the last 16.
Teams ranked 9th to 16th will host the second leg of their play-off while those in positions 17th to 24th will host the first leg.
Teams finishing 25th to 36th will be eliminated from all European competitions with no opportunity to enter the Europa League. The knockout stage will return to the familiar format of two-legged ties in the round of 16, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.
This marks the most significant change since the tournament’s rebranding from the European Cup in 1992.
Under the revamped system, each team will play eight matches—four at home and four away—against different opponents. The league phase will continue until the end of January, extending the competition’s duration.
Previously, the Champions League was divided into eight groups of four teams, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout rounds.
