The Champions League has a new look. Here’s what’s changed

The Champions League 2024-25 started on tuesday in a new format with 36 teams instead of 32.

The renewed competition has a competition system in which each team plays eight matches. The old group stage has been replaced by eight groups of four teams.

Here’s what you need to know about the new format:

How does it work?

The traditional group stage format, with 32 teams divided into eight groups of four, that the Champions League has used for 21 seasons, is disappearing.

There will be a single-standings league — 36 teams will play eight games each against eight different opponents through January. Teams will have a balanced schedule with two opponents from each of four seed pots.

The top eight in the rankings will advance directly to the round of 16 in March. They will be drawn in a tennis-style tournament format, with no separate draws for each round until the final.

Teams ranked ninth through 24th will go to a knockout play-off round in February, with the bottom 12 teams eliminated.

In the play-off round, the teams ranked 9th through 16th are drawn to play the return leg at home against the unseeded teams ranked 17th through 24th.

Why would you change such a successful competition?

The simple answer is that clubs wanted more money.

The Champions League showcases the highest quality of football. It has allowed UEFA to direct billions of euros (dollars) in prize money, raised through worldwide broadcasting and sponsorship deals, to clubs that pay the highest transfer fees and salaries.

These clubs also wanted to play more matches that they regarded as prestige matches, against a greater variety of high-quality opponents.

The group stage, clubs said, became too repetitive with only three opponents and lacked drama. More matches against stronger opponents would be more appreciated by broadcasters, viewers and new fans worldwide.

Their influence on UEFA was potentially to launch their own breakaway competition. The then leaders of the influential European Club Association negotiated with UEFA in early 2021 over reforms to the Champions League and also made plans for their own Super League.

The Super League was launched in April 2021 by 12 Spanish, Italian and English clubs and failed within 48 hours amid a backlash in England from fans and threats of government legislation.

However, the Champions League format, which was largely shaped by rebellious Super League clubs, was widely approved by UEFA a year later.

What are the pros and cons of the new format?

The 36 teams are guaranteed more money and brand exposure to a global audience. Players should get more games of higher quality to accelerate their development.

The extra matches – a total of 189 in the competition, compared to 125 in the past two decades – could confirm that the Champions League is the pinnacle of club football.

Two extra rounds of matches in January give the Champions League a new position in an increasingly busy football calendar. But could it overwhelm players after many looked fatigued ahead of Euro 2024, and ahead of the launch of FIFA’s month-long Club World Cup in June?

Eight teams from the Champions League last 16 have played 10 games to get there, compared to just six in the old format. Europe sends 12 teams — 11 of them will play in this edition of the Champions League — to the new FIFA club tournament, in which they will all play at least three and a maximum of seven matches in the United States next summer.

Is the extra prize money being spent wisely? Spiral expenses Player transfers have slowed this European summer, although top players’ salaries continue to rise.

Clubs from the top national leagues, as well as from leagues in lower-ranked countries, warn that the Champions League will create a greater divide in European football and lead to greater imbalance in the competition.

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AP football: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer