Champions League Format: What Are The Changes to UCL From 2024-25 Season?

Indian Super League Prediction

March 14 2026, 05:00 PM

SC East Bengal

Kerala Blasters

The top European Leagues kicked off their new season over the weekend as the Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1 and La Liga were some of the competitions to begin their campaigns with Bundesliga set to commence in the coming weekend.

As the 2024-25 season started, fans now await the start of the premier European competition - UEFA Champions League (UCL), which will played in a whole new format, starting from this year.

UEFA Champions League Format Changes from 2024-25 Season

Champions League has already kicked off for the new season with the qualifying rounds, but the tournament proper will only start next month when all the teams confirm their spots.

Real Madrid won their record-extending 15th UCL title, defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the final earlier this year when the competition was last held in the old format, featuring 32 teams in the group stages. So, what's changed this year? Here is all you need to know:

What are the changes to Champions League format from 2024-25 season?

While the qualification process remains the same as the previous editions, the biggest change in the reforms announced by the UEFA Executive Committee is the departure from the current format's group stage system.

Group Stage to League Phase: Earlier, the Champions League group stage included 32 participants divided into eight groups of four. From the 2024/25 season, 36 clubs will participate in the Champions League league phase (former group stage), giving four more sides the opportunity to compete against the best clubs in Europe.

How will 36 clubs compete if there is no group stage?

The 36 clubs will participate in a single league competition in which all 36 competing clubs are ranked together. But all 36 teams won't play each other in the league phase and will instead compete based on a draw. Yes, that's right the draw still remains despite there being no group stage.

New UCL League Phase Draw: Under the new format, teams will play eight matches in the new league phase (former group stage). They will no longer play three opponents twice - home and away - but will instead face fixtures against eight different teams, playing half of those matches at home and half of them away.

How is UCL league phase matches decided?

To determine the fixtures and eight different opponents, the teams will initially be ranked in four seeding pots. Each team will then be drawn to play two opponents from each of these pots, playing one match against a team from each pot at home, and one away.

This gives the opportunity for clubs to test themselves against a wider range of opponents and raises the prospect for fans of seeing the top teams go head to head more often and earlier in the competition. It will also result in more competitive matches for every club across the board.

Continuing on from the traditional rules, no team from the same country will face each other in the league phase, but a team can phase two teams from the same country in the league phase. For example, Manchester City will not meet Arsenal, but can face Real Madrid and Barcelona in the league phase.

When will the UCL league phase matches be played?

The UCL league phase will be staged from September to January next year instead of the tradition group stage when matches would run from September to December.

All games before the final will continue to be played in midweek - Tuesday and Wednesday. Additionally, there will be one exclusive matchweek when matches will be staged from Tuesday to Thursday, while the final will continue to be played on a Saturday.

UCL 2024/25 League Phase Schedule

Matchday 1: 17-19 September 2024
Matchday 2: 1-2 October 2024
Matchday 3: 22-23 October 2024
Matchday 4: 5-6 November 2024
Matchday 5: 26-27 November 2024
Matchday 6: 10-11 December 2024
Matchday 7: 21-22 January 2025
Matchday 8: 29 January 2025

How will teams qualify for knockout phase in UCL 2024/25?

The results of each match will decide the overall ranking in the new UCL league phase, with three points for a win and one for a draw. The top eight sides in the league will qualify automatically for the round of 16.

Meanwhile the teams finishing in 9th to 24th place will compete in a two-legged knock-out phase play-off to secure their path to the last 16 of the competition. Teams that finish 25th or lower will be eliminated, with no access even to the UEFA Europa League.

Will the format for the UCL knockout phase change in the new format in 2024/25?

The only change is the addition of the new knock out phase play-off round. From the round of 16 onwards, the competition will continue to follow its old format of knockout rounds leading to the final staged at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.