Champions League's Revolutionary New Format: Everything You Need to Know

The UEFA Champions League experienced a major transformation for the 2024–25 season, departing from the structure that had been established since 2003.

This modification saw the competition transition from a conventional group stage—where 32 clubs were separated into eight groups of four—to a fresh, enlarged league phase containing 36 teams.

While there were worries about these modifications, the first season of the new Swiss system delivered remarkable excitement and the usual unpredictability that characterizes Europe's premier competition. This format has been maintained for the 2025–26 season.

Here's a comprehensive guide to the Champions League's revamped format, covering team qualification processes, tournament structure, and available rewards.

Champions League Qualification: Entry Requirements

Clubs earn Champions League spots through their domestic league positions from the preceding season.

Every nation receives a specific allocation of tournament places determined by its UEFA association coefficient, which evaluates leagues based on their teams' European competition results over the previous five seasons.

Top-tier nations secure additional spots, while lower-ranked leagues might require participation in qualifying rounds to earn tournament entry.

For the 2025–26 edition, 25 clubs automatically secured league phase positions through their domestic league results last season, with two additional places—European Performance Spots—awarded to English and Spanish teams based on their coefficient standings.

Annually, the defending Champions League and Europa League champions also receive Champions League berths, with these positions going to the next eligible teams if the European competition winners already qualify through domestic league performance.

Seven clubs earned their 2025–26 league phase spots through the qualifying rounds.

Champions League Format 2025–26: Swiss System

The Champions League's redesigned league phase adopts the Swiss system from chess, eliminating the need for every team to play all others.

Rather, the 36 participating clubs contest eight matches against eight different opponents––four at home and four away. The fixtures are decided through a seeded draw prior to tournament commencement.

Following the league phase conclusion, teams placing first through eighth advance directly to the round of 16. Teams finishing ninth through 24th enter playoff rounds, with the top eight confronting the bottom eight across two legs. These playoff winners will fill the remaining last 16 positions.

Clubs finishing 25th through 36th in the league phase are eliminated without dropping to the Europa League.

Subsequently, the tournament maintains its conventional knockout structure, with clubs competing in two-legged matches from the round of 16 through the semifinals. When aggregate scores are tied, matches proceed to extra time and potentially penalties, before the final two teams meet in the championship match. The away goals rule is no longer in effect.

A modification exists for the 2025–26 season, though. Teams finishing in the league phase's top four now receive guaranteed home advantage for the second leg of their last 16 and quarterfinal matches. Teams placing first and second in the league phase also secure home advantage for semifinals—if they advance that far.

Teams can earn home advantage during knockout rounds by defeating clubs that finished in the league phase's top four.

Champions League 2025–26 Timeline & Important Dates

From beginning to end, the Champions League extends across nearly a full year, with qualifying rounds commencing in July, the main tournament starting in September, and the championship match occurring in May.

Here is a breakdown of the 2025–26 timeline:

Champions League Financial Rewards & Incentives

For the 2025–26 Champions League, the complete financial reward pool totals $2.9 billion, split across three categories: equal distributions, performance-based payments, and the value component.

Equal distributions essentially guarantee every participating team a portion of the reward pool. Even clubs eliminated during qualifying stages received $35 million, while league phase participants automatically earned $21.7 million.

Performance-based financial rewards compensate teams for their tournament achievements. For instance, a league phase victory earns $2.5 million, while winning the championship brings $29.2 million.

Financial rewards accumulate, so the eventual champion, winning every match, could earn approximately $129 million.

The value component, meanwhile, represents a distinct element that distributes funds according to factors like market pool and broadcasting rights, ensuring teams with larger followings or in more profitable markets receive greater shares.

Champions League Legacy & Most Accomplished Teams

The Champions League was initially established in 1955 as the European Champion Clubs' Cup, or European Cup, as a direct knockout competition restricted to Europe's domestic league champions.

In 1992, it received its current designation and a revised format, permitting additional clubs from throughout the continent to participate.

The most accomplished team in Champions League history (including its European Cup period) is Real Madrid, holding a record 15 titles. AC Milan ranks second with seven, while Bayern Munich and Liverpool have each captured the trophy six times.

Barcelona has secured the title five times, while Ajax has been crowned champion on four occasions.

The five most decorated players in Champions League history—Paco Gento, Toni Kroos, Dani Carvajal, Luka Modrić, and Nacho Fernández—have each claimed the trophy six times, primarily with Real Madrid. Gento earned his titles during the 1950s and 1960s, while the others have excelled since the new millennium.

The tournament's all-time top scorer is Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 140 goals for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Lionel Messi ranks second with 129, achieved during his tenure at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.