What’s the new format for the Champions League?
The major change is in the group stage, which will now feature a single 36-team league phase. Each team will play against eight different opponents—four at home and four away. The top eight teams in this phase will advance directly to the Round of 16. Teams finishing between ninth and 24th will compete in knockout phase play-offs, with the winners moving on to the Round of 16. From that point, the tournament follows a straightforward knockout format.
Teams
The tournament features 32 teams in the group stage, including the champions of the top European leagues, top finishers from various domestic leagues, and some qualifiers.
Domestic qualifiers for the Champions League, with flags added for each country:
| Country | Teams |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 England | Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | Real Madrid, Barcelona, Girona, Atlético de Madrid |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Leverkusen, Stuttgart, Bayern, Leipzig |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Inter, Milan, Juventus, Atalanta |
| 🇫🇷 France | Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, Brest |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | Sporting CP |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | Club Brugge |
| 🇲🇲 Scotland | Celtic |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | Sturm Graz |
Format
- Group Stage: 32 teams are divided into 8 groups of 4. Each team plays 6 matches (home and away against each of the other teams in their group). The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 16.
- Round of 16: The 16 qualified teams play two-legged ties (home and away) to determine the 8 teams that advance to the quarter-finals.
- Quarter-finals: The 8 remaining teams play two-legged ties to determine the 4 teams that proceed to the semi-finals.
- Semi-finals: The 4 remaining teams compete in two-legged ties to determine the 2 teams that reach the final.
- Final: The two finalists play a single match to decide the champion.
How does qualifying for the 2024/25 Champions League work?
Fifty-two teams compete for the remaining seven spots in the league phase, with the playoffs taking place in August. The stage at which teams enter qualifying depends on their association club coefficient ranking. All matches are played over two legs.
Here’s a table for the 2024/25 Champions League league phase matches:
| Matchday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | September 17–19, 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 |
When are the 2024/25 Champions League qualifiers?
- First Qualifying Round: July 9/10 & 16/17, 2024
- Second Qualifying Round: July 23/24 & 30/31, 2024
- Third Qualifying Round: August 6/7 & 13, 2024
- Play-offs: August 20/21 & 27/28, 2024
Here’s a table with the dates for the 2024/25 Champions League knockout phase:
| Phase | Dates |
|---|---|
| Knockout Phase Play-offs | February 11/12 & 18/19, 2025 |
| Round of 16 | March 4/5 & 11/12, 2025 |
| Quarter-finals | April 8/9 & 15/16, 2025 |
| Semi-finals | April 29/30 & May 6/7, 2025 |
| Final | May 31, 2025 |
Key Dates
- Group Stage Draw: Usually held in late August.
- Group Stage Matches: Typically played from September to December.
- Round of 16 Draw: Usually in December.
- Round of 16 Matches: Played in February and March.
- Quarter-finals and Semi-finals Draw: Usually in March.
- Quarter-finals Matches: Played in April.
- Semi-finals Matches: Played in April and May.
- Final: The final is usually held in late May or early June. The venue is selected by UEFA and is different each year.
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Final
The 2024/25 Champions League final will be held at the Fußball Arena München, marking a return to the home of German giants Bayern Munich for the first time since 2012. This venue will host the pinnacle of European club football.
Additionally, the winners of the 2024/25 Champions League will secure a spot in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, provided they have not already qualified through their domestic league.