What is the new Champions League format for the 2024-25 season? All the changes as UEFA are set to implement a new-look competition next year

The draw for the 2023/24 Champions League group stage will take place later today. But this will be the last time we see the competition as we know it.

UEFA approved plans in April 2021 that would not only change the format of Europe’s elite club competition, but also expand the number of teams.

Premier League clubs could benefit from the expanded set-up following confirmation that up to five teams would be able to qualify for the competition through their position in the league.

For that to happen, the English clubs competing in all UEFA competitions would need to have one of the top two performers in Europe.

So what exactly does it mean that the Champions League now has a ‘Swiss League’ style and what can we expect in the future?

Mail Sport has all the details on the future of the league.

How does qualification work?

Despite some major changes to how the Champions League group stage will work, the changes to the qualifying processes are very minor as there are still four places left.

They remain open and are earned through a team’s performance in their own domestic competitions.

One of the extra places goes to the club that finishes third in the league and is fifth in the UEFA coefficient. Another will be awarded to a domestic champion, increasing the clubs qualification through the ‘Champions Path’ from four to five.

The last two places will be awarded to the two leagues finishing in the top two of the 2023-2024 coefficients.

The two leagues with the highest coefficients earn another Champions League place

That’s what a Premier League club could benefit from if English clubs perform well across Europe this season.

Spain could also benefit from the change, as the country is currently second in the coefficient ranking.

What is the new Champions League format?

An all-new format awaits those who qualify for the group stage.

Instead of eight groups of four teams, there will now be one competition containing all 36 teams.

Each team plays against 10 different teams during their matches, five of which are at home and the other five are away.

From there, the top eight teams automatically qualify for the eighth round knockout stage.

Each team now plays ten games in the group stage, five at home and five away

The teams finishing ninth through 24th then compete in a two-legged play-off to secure their way to the last sixteen.

From then on, the course will be as we’ve seen before, with each round being a two-legged knockout all the way to the final.

The 2024/25 Champions League final will take place on May 31, 2025 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

Why were the changes made?

According to a statement on the UEFA website the changes are “designed to secure the positive future of European football at every level and to meet the evolving needs of all its stakeholders.”

“The common goal, which unequivocally reaffirms the shared commitment to the principle of open competition and sporting merit across the continent, is to maintain domestic competition.”

Aleksandar Ceferin has said the new format supports the future of domestic and European football

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin added: “This new format also supports the status and future of domestic football across Europe.

It upholds the principle that domestic performance should be the key to qualification and reaffirms the principles of solidarity throughout the game and of open competition.

“The evolved format will still keep alive the dream of every team in Europe to participate in the UEFA Champions League thanks to the results achieved on the pitch, and it will enable long-term viability, prosperity and growth for all in European football.’