The new Champions League format has been explained and it sounds absolutely ridiculous

Plans from UEFA for a new Champions League format will go ahead as of the 2024/25 season with an extra four clubs involved and a 50% increase in the number of matches.

Alongside receiving extra prize money as a result, top clubs' respective schedules will get tougher as UEFA look to keep Europe's elite on their side following the threat of another European Super League proposal.

Numerous clubs, including all of the Premier League's 'big six' sides were convinced to accept the proposal of a breakaway league back in 2021 with plans eventually falling through following numerous protests.

Back in October 2022, the European Super League announced its plans to relaunch the league through company A22 Sports Management, fronted by its CEO Bernd Reichart.

Clubs are still largely on UEFA's side, however, the new Champions League format has been explained and it's slightly confusing, to say the least.

A single group of 36 teams will replace the format of eight groups of four, with each side playing eight matches during the new group stage. Four will be at home and four away.

Following the group stage, all teams will be formatted into a table with the top eight sides automatically qualifying for the round of 16 while clubs finishing between ninth and 24th will enter a play-off round for the eight remaining places.

Once that process has commenced, ongoings in the Champions League will proceed as normal with a two-legged round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final before the eventual final. The 2025 final is currently scheduled to be played at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.

The format could also see more Premier League clubs qualify for the Champions League with additional slots allocated to the two best European nations over the previous season and a third for the fifth nation in the UEFA ranking.

However, due to Manchester United and Newcastle United’s early exit from this season’s Champions League, the Premier League could be denied the additional spot in next season’s competition.

Featured Image Credit: Getty/Champions League

Topics: Champions League, Football

Dan Hargraves

Dan is a freelance sports journalist currently in his final year studying Football Journalism at the University of Derby. Currently working for SPORTBible and Reach PLC, he has also worked for Snack Media amongst others. His proudest work thus far came at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games where he was a live blogger for the Commonwealth Games Federation, providing sports coverage on the tournament's official website to over a billion people.

@danjhargraves