The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 season is set to revolutionize European club football with a groundbreaking new format and an expanded lineup of teams.
The most notable change in the 2024-25 season is the transition from the traditional group stage to a single league format consisting of 36 teams.
Previously, 32 teams were divided into eight groups of four, but the new format will allow each team to play eight matches against different opponents—four at home and four away.
The top eight teams will automatically advance to the knockout stage, while those finishing in ninth to 24th place will enter a playoff round for a chance to continue their journey.
Check the detailed overview of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 new format, teams, draw, prize money, and more.
UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Key Features of the New Format
Single League Phase: All 36 teams will compete in a single league, with each club facing eight different opponents. This replaces the previous model of playing home-and-away matches against three teams.
Seeding System: The teams are divided into four pots based on their UEFA coefficients. Each team will play two opponents from each pot, ensuring a diverse range of matchups.
Advancement to Knockouts: The top eight teams from the league phase will automatically qualify for the knockout stage, while teams ranked 9th to 24th will enter a playoff round to secure their spots in the last 16. Teams finishing 25th to 36th will be eliminated from all competitions.
Increased Match Count: The number of matches in the tournament will rise from 125 to 189, providing fans with more action and opportunities to see their favorite clubs compete.
Participating Teams of UEFA Champions League 2024-25
A total of 81 teams from 53 UEFA member associations will participate in the tournament, with notable absences from Liechtenstein and Russia. The allocation of spots includes:
- Automatic Entries: The fifth-ranked league (Ligue 1) will receive three automatic entries, while Germany and Italy gain an additional spot each based on their UEFA coefficients. The final spot will be filled by a national champion from the qualifying rounds.
Notable Teams in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25:
- Pot 1: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Barcelona
- Pot 2: Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, Juventus, Benfica, Arsenal, Club Brugge, Shakhtar Donetsk, AC Milan
- Pot 3: Feyenoord, Sporting Lisbon, PSV Eindhoven, Dinamo Zagreb, Red Bull Salzburg, Lille, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys, Celtic
- Pot 4: Slovan Bratislava, Monaco, Sparta Prague, Aston Villa, Bologna, Girona, Stuttgart, Sturm Graz, Brest
UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Draw Details
The draw for the league phase took place on August 29, 2024, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. The process involved manually drawing teams from the four pots, followed by an automated system that randomly assigned opponents. Each team will play two teams from each pot, ensuring a mix of competition.
In this new format, all 36 participating teams will be manually drawn from four seeding pots, ensuring a fair and organized selection. However, instead of manually selecting opponents, a designated automated software will quickly assign opponents digitally, taking just seconds for each team.
Once a team is drawn, the software will randomly select eight opponents from the remaining pots, determining home and away fixtures simultaneously.
Draw Process Highlights:
- Teams cannot face opponents from their own domestic leagues, and a maximum of two teams from the same country can be drawn against a single club.
- The draw is designed to be efficient, taking approximately 35 minutes, compared to a manual draw that could take several hours.
- The final fixture list will be released on August 31, 2024, ahead of the first matchday.
UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Match Schedule
The league phase matches will be held between September 2024 and January 2025, with the following key dates:
- Matchday 1: September 17, 18, 19, 2024
- Matchday 2: October 1, 2, 2024
- Matchday 3: October 22, 23, 2024
- Matchday 4: November 5, 6, 2024
- Matchday 5: November 26, 27, 2024
- Matchday 6: December 10, 11, 2024
- Matchday 7: January 21, 22, 2025
- Matchday 8: January 29, 2025
Prize Money UEFA Champions League 2024-25
The prize money for the UEFA Champions League will see an increase for the 2024-25 season.
The total amount available for distribution among the clubs involved in the league phase has risen to $2.6 billion, compared to $2.2 billion in the previous season.
However, this increased sum will now be shared among 36 teams instead of the previous 32.
