UEFA has confirmed a new format for the Champions League from 2024-25.
The UEFA Congress is taking place in Montreux today and football's Europe governing body have announced a new Champions League format from 2024.
President Aleksander Ceferin once again hit out at the 12 clubs that announced the Super League on Sunday.
"For some clubs, supporters have become consumers, fans have become customers, and competitions have become products," he said.
UEFA has confirmed a new format for the Champions League from 2024-25.
The UEFA Congress is taking place in Montreux today and football's Europe governing body have announced a new Champions League format from 2024.
President Aleksander Ceferin once again hit out at the 12 clubs that announced the Super League on Sunday.
"For some clubs, supporters have become consumers, fans have become customers, and competitions have become products," he said.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino also said he disapproves of the new competition, which he called a "closed shop."
UEFA have announced a new Champions League format agreed with ECA and its former President Andrea Agnelli, who resigned after the Super League announcement on Sunday.
"The pivotal change in the reforms announced by the UEFA Executive Committee after its meeting on 19 April 2021 is the departure from the current format's opening 32-team group stage,” UEFA’s announcement reads.
“The present Champions League season begins with participants divided into eight groups of four. From the 2024/25 season, there will be a single league made up of all 36 competing clubs. This will give four more sides the opportunity to compete against the best clubs in Europe.
“Under the new format, teams will play four matches more than is currently the case. They will no longer play three opponents twice – home and away – but will instead face fixtures against 10 different teams, half of them at home and half of them away. This gives the opportunity for clubs to test themselves against a wider range of opponents – and also raises the prospect of fans seeing the top teams go head to head more often earlier in the competition. The new format should mean that there is more to play for right up until the final night of league action.
How will the four additional spots be allocated?
Qualification for the Champions League will continue to be open and depend on a club's final position in the previous season's domestic league competition. The additional four slots available in 2024/25 will be allocated according to three different criteria:
Slot one: awarded to a club from the country placed fifth in UEFA's national association coefficient rankings. Each association's coefficient is based on the results of its clubs' performances in five previous Champions League and Europa League seasons.
Slot two: awarded to the domestic league champion with the highest club coefficient among all other domestic champions that have not automatically qualified for the Champions League's league stage.
Slots three and four: awarded to the two clubs with the highest club coefficients that have not qualified automatically for the Champions League's league stage, but have qualified either for the Champions League qualification phase or the Europa League/the Europa Conference League (due to start in the 2021/22 season).
How will the last 16 take shape?
The results of each match will decide the overall ranking in the new league, with three points for a win and one for a draw still applying.
While the top eight teams will advance automatically to the round of 16, those sides placed between ninth and 24th will enter a play-off round. Those who finished between ninth and 16th will be seeded in the play-off draw, meaning they will face a team placed 17th to 24th – with home advantage in the second-leg match. Teams who finish 25th or lower will be eliminated, with no access to the UEFA Europa League.
The eight clubs who prevail in the play-offs will then progress to the round of 16 where they will each face one of the top-eight finishers.
Do the changes impact the knockout stages?
From the round of 16 onward, the competition will continue to follow its existing format of knockout rounds leading to the final staged at a neutral venue selected by UEFA.
What does the new Champions League format mean for fans?
More opportunities to see Europe's top teams playing each other earlier in the competition.
Every game counts. The new league format will ensure that any result has the potential to dramatically change a team's position, right up the very last matchday. Winning or losing could make the difference between a side automatically qualifying for the last 16, entering the play-offs or being eliminated from the competition.
Will UEFA's other club competitions adopt the same format?
Yes. In addition to the Champions League, both the Europa League and the all new Europa Conference League – due to kick off in the 2021/22 season – will also evolve to replace their group stage with a single league. The new format can be adapted as needed to each competition, both in terms of the number of teams and the number of matches.
What are the next steps in preparing the ground for the new format's introduction in 2024?
Further decisions regarding matters such as the rebalancing of the access list, match dates, seeding system, format for the finals, coefficients and financial distribution will be made by the end of 2021. Potential adjustments to the format approved on 19 April could still be made if necessary.
How will the new format benefit the wider European game?
The changes made are designed to secure the positive future of European football at every level and meet the evolving needs of all its stakeholders. Unequivocally confirming joint commitment to the principle of open competition and sporting merit across the continent, the common purpose has also been to sustain domestic leagues.
UEFA has also reaffirmed its strong financial commitment to the whole of European football and will initiate steps to ensure that greater financial solidarity will be delivered to a wider spectrum of clubs who do not participate in UEFA club competitions. This will reinforce the solid foundation on which the game in Europe is built.