Champions League Reveals New Format for 2024-25; League Play Replaces Group Stage
Exciting news for football fans! The Champions League is getting a makeover for the 2024-25 season. Instead of the usual group stage with 32 teams, there will now be a league phase featuring 36 teams. This includes clubs from the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League.
Teams will face off against eight different opponents, playing four games at home and four away. In the UEFA Conference League, teams will play six opponents. The top eight teams in the league phase will advance directly to the round of 16, while teams finishing 9th to 24th will compete in a knockout playoff for the remaining spots. Unfortunately, teams placing 25th to 36th will be eliminated.
The knockout stage will feature home and away legs, except for the final which will be a single-elimination match. The goal of these changes is to make the standings more unpredictable and provide fans with thrilling matchups from the start.
Though the format is changing, qualification for the Champions League still depends on a team’s performance in their domestic league from the previous season.
Get ready for the action to kick off on July 9, with the final set for May 31, 2025. It’s going to be an exciting season!