The UEFA Champions League will undergo a significant format change for the 2024/25 season, introducing a new "Swiss model" league phase involving 36 teams. Each team will play eight matches against different opponents, with fixtures scheduled across Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The top eight teams will advance automatically to the Round of 16, while teams placed 9th to 24th will participate in a playoff round, and the bottom 12 teams will be eliminated.
The draw pots will include top teams, and teams cannot face opponents from their own country, with a maximum of two teams from the same nation drawn together. The draw will be automated using AI software, with additional security measures to prevent manipulation.
The format change aims to increase competitive balance, create more exciting matchups, provide financial benefits with a 25% increase in the prize pot to nearly 2.5 billion euros, and change the earnings distribution to provide higher base amounts and performance bonuses for all 36 qualifying clubs.
The draw for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League league phase will take place in Monaco on Thursday. The 2025 Champions League final will be held at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena on May 31.
Arsenal's return to the Champions League is expected to generate around £65 million in additional income, giving them a £23 million financial advantage over Tottenham Hotspur, who missed out on qualification, potentially impacting the balance of power between the two clubs.
Russian teams remain suspended from UEFA competitions due to the invasion of Ukraine.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Independent, Sky, Sporting News, The Football Faithful, ESPN, The Will News, New Telegraph, Daily Mail, Vijesti.