The UEFA ( Union of European Football Associations) League is one of the most prestigious club competitions in the world, and it has undergone some significant changes in recent years.
The Champions League will move to a 36-team tournament from the 2024-25 season. This means, there will be one big league table instead of eight groups of four teams. The old format saw 32 clubs divided into eight groups of four teams. There will still be a draw at the start of the season, but only to create the league-phase fixtures: eight games for each club, four at home and four away. The Premier League will have eight clubs in Europe this season, as West Ham United won the UEFA Europa Conference League and didn’t qualify for Europe domestically. It means every win by an English club will be worth slightly less to the coefficient score because it’s an average of eight clubs rather than seven.
UEFA has been criticized for allowing Red Star Belgrade’s sponsor Gazprom to return to the Champions League. The Russian state-owned oil company was a former partner of UEFA, but the governing body cut ties with them as a sponsor following the invasion of Ukraine in February of last year. However, Gazprom is also a long-term sponsor of Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade, who are allowed to play in UEFA competitions bearing their logo.
The 2024/25 edition of the UEFA Champions League will follow a new format. We explain what will change, what will stay the same, what it means for fans, and how it impacts UEFA’s other competitions changes made are designed to secure the positive future of European football at every level and meet the evolving needs of all its stakeholders. Unequivocally confirming joint commitment to the principle of open competition and sporting merit across the continent, the common purpose has also been to sustain domestic leagues.
The UEFA Champions League format remains the same this season, with 32 teams in the group stage, spread across eight groups of four. The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain will also fancy their chances after spending big over the summer. The Champions League is undergoing significant changes, with a new format set to be introduced from the 2024-25 season. The Premier League will have eight clubs in Europe this season, and UEFA has faced criticism for allowing Red Star Belgrade’s sponsor Gazprom to return to the competition. The UEFA Champions League format remains the same this season, with 32 teams in the group stage, spread across eight groups of four.