The New Champions League Format EXPLAINED

#UEFA #championsleague #uefachampionsleague
Since it’s inception in 1955, the UEFA Champions League, formerly known as the European Cup, has gone through a number of developments, rebrands and format changes. In the competition’s debut season, sixteen teams took part in a straight knockout tournament to crown the kings of Europe. Several evolutions later, including a name change during the 1992/93 season, and we come to the now familiar format that we are all used to throughout all of UEFA’s club competitions. However, from the 2024/25 season, the Champions League will see it’s biggest change in decades, arguably even since the inception of the competition. On the 10th May 2022, UEFA revealed their plans for the latest incarnation of the Champions League, including it’s final format and access list, which would begin during the 2024/25 season. Not only would these changes effect their premier club competition, but also the secondary Europa League and Europa Conference League tournaments. So what are these changes and what do they mean in regards to qualification, how and when matches will be played, and for fans watching at home or attending games in person? In this video, I shall break down the new format and explain what the new UEFA Champions League will look like for the foreseeable future.

[@MisterFreak579]

This sort of looks like the MLS playoff format, I loved the group stage this will ruin everything.

[@jackclarke9209]

Yeah it's similar to the NFL, where you don't play every team and instead play a select few. Then your rank after x games determines your position in the playoffs.

[@MisterFreak579]

@@jackclarke9209 Why can't they simply add a fifth team to each group if they want more teams and games but rather choose to completely change the Champions League instead.

[@jackclarke9209]

@@MisterFreak579 by changing the format makes it more interesting to the casual viewer, and will increase viewerships figures, hence more money. also, i think the main aim is to add more ‘big teams’ in the competition. by adding an extra 8 teams, to makes 5 man groups, you risk not having the opportunity add the historically larger clubs, hence less potential revenue.

[@MisterFreak579]

@@jackclarke9209 It won't be interesting at all and people will get bored having to wait for 10 matches until they finally reach the knockout phase, needless to say, they will kill these players, 10 matches minimum plus their domestic leagues and cup will get them tired and will probably push many of them earlier to their retirement. But yes I guess they want more money and they finally got the freaking Super League they have been obsessed with for decades.

[@iancee9716]

​​@@MisterFreak579 it's just 2 more games between September and december and 2 more on february if they go to play off, don't exaggerate, it's not too many games. Europa league teams already plays those 2 more games on february and nobody complain. This system is better. Inter is on the final this year because they had an easy path, it won't be that easy to be on the final with this format

[@joshez1]

They basically just made the super league

[@baggio131276]

uefa its not against super league. its against a super league not being organized by uefa so they can still have money.

[@empidimcflybrunojupiter6937]

3:27 is the biggest mistake from UEFA. From 9th to 24th they should play a single match in the stadium of the best ranked. The same for the Europa League and Conference League. Whoever loses that round of Champions will face whoever wins it in the Europa League between 9 and 24, and they would play in the stadium of the Europa League team to qualify for the Round of 16 of said competition. This would not affect the already established calendar so it could be done without problems. That would be more beautiful, exciting and would also make the Europa League and the Conference League more competitive, since with this Uefa change both competitions lose a lot of level.

[@carlogiottones348]

I like this idea - something similar to what I was thinking. I was surprised to hear so many people criticize the current relegation from UCL to UEL after the group stage. I think any club would like the opportunity to continue in a cup tournament after December, instead like this, if you lose your playoffs, that's it, your season's over. But I like even more the idea of the chance of being promoted if the UEL team beats the UCL loser. But of course UEFA is too thick headed to even take it into consideration. Too bad..

[@AL12d]

This just proves Uefa Dont Care about football but The money and will do anything to get more

[@noncompliance4100]

The biggest clubs are the greediest. They forced this with their superleague break away threats.

[@zero-ui1ew]

I think this format is not so bad and should be given a chance

[@PNEfc001]

Great video explanation but I think you made a mistake. There will be 4 pots of 9 teams (ranked by their co-efficient) and each team plays 2 from each pot. You said they play home and away. That would be 16 games. I believe it's just 8 single matches but not sure how they decide who is home and away. My guess is that you play one home and one away from each pot.

[@jamesvass737]

Yes, you're correct, one home and one away game against both opponents drawn to play you from the same pot.

[@peterdavidson3268]

To me this fudged (and that's what it is of course) reworking of the UCL tournament always looked as though it was an overly complex solution to a relatively simple problem; how to placate the (financially driven) demands of the super clubs (Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milano, Internazionale, Bayern Munchen, Man City etc.) whilst NOT appearing to do exactly that, ie. maintaining even a vague impression of it being a solely merit based sporting competition? My idea to solve this conundrum, which I'd already worked out back in the 1990s, was to have one more pre-qualifying round (before the league groups stage), resulting in a smaller number of qualifiers making up the final number of 32 teams contesting the group stages but then instead of having 8 groups of 4 teams, change this to 4 groups of 8 teams, with only the top team from each of these four groups advancing to the finals, which would be organised on a festival tournament basis, ie. two semi-finals, a 3rd/4th play-off for the semi-final losers and a grand final, all held in the same city over a six day period. If you work out how many games this would give the 32 teams qualifying for the league stages, in comparison to the current scenario, it's not that different. A team going all the way to the final festival tournament week would have to play 14 league games, plus two games in the final six day festival tournament, so 16 in total. Under the current (up to end of 23-24 season) set-up, a team progressing all the way to the final plays 6 league stage games, plus 6 knock-out games and then a final, so 13 games in total. In my idea for a revamped UCL competition, the so called super clubs are all guaranteed more games overall (a minimum of 14 league fixtures) and many of those games will be competitive against similarly strong clubs (each league of 8 teams would likely contain at least 3 or 4 capable of finishing top and qualification for the final tournament), not just teams making up the numbers from the much smaller less competitive domestic leagues; this outcome resulting from the extra pre-qualification round mentioned earlier. The four game final festival tournament outlined could be a real showcase event for UEFA to broadcast globally. There would of course have to be some reward for the team winning the third/fourth play -off game in order to incentivise them and make it a sporting spectacle rather than simply a consolation prize. My idea for a UCL revamp seems much simpler (to me at least) whilst still providing many of the numerous and complex goals required?

[@eamonreidy9534]

The end goal here will be a Brazil style championship. Just wait for it. There will be a European A,B,C,D league like in Brazil and it will be played after a domestic season which is treated like the Brazilian state championships. The clubs involved and even smaller clubs wont turn down the billions of dollars

[@RedDevilStudio]

04:31 incorrect if a team who won the europa finished outside the top 4 it does NOT replace 4th spot just look at Sevilla

[@NoCluYT]

Bring on the super league. UEFA had one job and messed up.

[@georgemacpherson1992]

People will be against this and UEFA will be forced to drop the idea. If anything they should have all the cup competitions at 32 clubs in the group stage.

[@gabrielnycz7470]

It is confirmed bro

[@alohatigers1199]

What does that mean for leagues outside of the top 5? Don’t they deserve a champions league spot? Just by qualifying is a lot of money for these small teams.

[@FREAKYTURK1903]

Its name is “Champions” league, when you include 5th or even 6th of a league in the competition by pushing out “champions” of some European leagues it disrespects what the tournament stand for and its philosophy.

[@titasjaneika2309]

Basically teams can give zero f because finishing 24th will still give you a chance to win...talking about getting rewards as a looser lol whole structure is created for big teams while two slots will be given to looser teams from main leagues.Pathetic...and uefa talking that they care about small guys lol...this is worse than superleague at this point.

[@alohatigers1199]

If a club in Poland, Croatia, Greece, Belgium, Turkey, Finland, etc. wins their domestic league, declaring themselves as the best team in their country, don’t they deserve a champions league qualification? Just by qualifying, how much money do they get? That’s a lot of money for those small teams. Why don’t they do that? Like the original format when it’s 1 club per country qualifying.

[@baggio131276]

please bring back the old CHAMPIONS cup. only champions of their home country. elimination round on single match. last 8 will play in a league with 2 rounds

[@dmgreacts6086]

i dont understand the 2 teams from association with the highest 1 year coefficient

[@mijokalebic4371]

Two associations are selected based on current season performance. For example, for this season those are Italy and England. In such case, Ita rank 5 and Eng rank 5 would also qualify for the Champions league next season.

[@dmgreacts6086]

@@mijokalebic4371 in their league? or on the coefficient rankings

[@mijokalebic4371]

In their league

[@dmgreacts6086]

@@mijokalebic4371 thank god i thought it was based on the coefficient ranking so that would mean if it was going to happen next season Liverpool and Atalanta would qualify

[@clemensnader3865]

@@dmgreacts6086 yes. So all teams of their respective national association try to achieve as many points over all 3 competitions to get that extra place.

[@Lifeofty__]

How are the opponents for the 8 games in the league chosen? You could get 8 'lesser teams' and therefore not play any big team theoretically?

[@anthonyfoco6396]

He says in the video that a team has to play against 2 teams from each of the 4 pots. That means that you have to face 2 big teams no matter what.

[@ulaytube9953]

@@anthonyfoco6396 so if you have to face 2 teams from each pot home and away then you’re playing 16 games….how tf does that make sense?

[@elitegaming5760]

@@ulaytube9953 no you don't play the same team home and away

[@derluca3211]

​@@ulaytube9953you play once against every team

[@clemensnader3865]

@@ulaytube9953 4 Pots each containing 9 teams. a team from pot 1 (e.g.. Bayern Munich has to play against 2 other teams from the same pot --> like Barcelona and Napoli) and so on 2 teams from pot 2,3 & 4

[@ebukaakara]

It’s all about the money

[@gottes1stsenpai30]

Thanks for explaining it! But I don't think it matters what we think, as if they care haha

[@franciszekzielony]

Why will there only be 6 group matches played in Conference League?

[@FullTimeFootballNI]

I can only assume it's due to scheduling conflicts? Honestly, I haven't been able to find any definitive reaaon as to why there will be less games in the Conferemce League.

[@franciszekzielony]

@@FullTimeFootballNI I was wondering if this might be because UEFA wants to limit the number of ranking points that can be earned. What do you think?

[@LZ-Cro-minator]

What is the difference? The same story as before, only with a new competition format. The rule of 4 preliminary rounds of qualifications remains, and the group competition is pushed under one league. More games? Maybe. We'll see.

[@samuelford]

3:05 he finally gets through the waffle

[@waynezahra9213]

Why change something that isn’t broken?

[@theophiluskobla3109]

What decides the eight teams each team would face in the league phase of the competition.

[@jamesvass737]

A draw based on four pots of nine teams each with each team being drawn against two teams from each pot, including their own pot.

[@gmstoryteller7393]

This ensures only big teams with money will have a chance

[@MrPhoxy]

I dont get it what determine each team 8 match in the 36 league system..? coeficient..? if that its basically the same except has an extra game. cmiiw

[@jamesvass737]

A draw.

[@sandu-vd7fi]

When will be played the extra 2 matchdays of the league stage?

[@PNEfc001]

January apparently. Nightmare.

[@michaeljohncolgan8142]

Should have just left it as a straight knockout for CHAMPIONS only. This format gives me a migraine

[@falcontube2023]

It's ridiculous, I rather play Zelda, it's easier to understand

[@juniorhomeentertainment1602]

I personally don’t like this new format, nothing’s broken so don’t fix it

[@weebob0328]

what a mess

[@unrestdigest]

What happens instead of goal difference and head to head?

[@MrASK1989]

removing away goals by them

[@MarkDay-nv8fu]

If its not broken dont fix it

[@superalex120]

I like this format

[@SuperIberian]

European football ⚽️ is destroyed. Champions League should only be played by the Champions of each country in a CL format but only for Champions. What’s this Conference Mickey Mouse league all about ? Couldn’t UEFA rescue the old beautiful cup winners cup and renamed Conference League??? Conference league !!! What an horrible trophy :( And the Europa league should stay as it is to avoid more damage to the competition… Overall many of us I guess MISS THE 70/80 and 90’s when football ⚽️ was proper, beautiful and fair.

[@stump1897]

All you need to know is more matches, more money.

[@marconivlima]

I didn't know about the NBA Champions League

[@cameron62349]

#stopnewchampionsleagueformat

[@adrian_emilian]

Video is well explained but UEFA new format will destroy football 😢. Hopefully they will change their mind before is to late.

[@قرفص]

Shocking idea

[@cameron62349]

#stopnewformatchanpionLeague Not fair on Scottish football club

[@vinchenzo678]

Ffs.. How complicated does that sound. Just keep the cup😂

[@eoindarkside]

So it's basically the European super league🧐🧐🧐🧐..... The one league uefa didn't want in the first place makes logic sence I guess 🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@jamesvass737]

No it isn't because participation is still only based on performance in domestic competitions (apart from Champions, Europa and Conference winners of the previous season automatically qualifying).

[@stampede_axxa]

It's not a big deal, group stage isn't that important

[@altikma]

BRO I HAVE NO FUCKING IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT FROM 00:00 to 07:39. But good video thanks, helped alot ⚽⚽🤙🤙

[@haryoooooooooo]

For me, it is more realistic if the league will be split into 2 regional leagues. For example, teams from Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Serbia, and Greece will play in the southern league, whereas teams from England, Germany, Scotland, Poland, Ukraine, and Norway will play in the Northern League. The top 8 teams from each league will qualify automatically for the knockout stages, the next 4 will be relegated, and the bottom 6 will be eliminated.

[@zero-ui1ew]

That's a trash idea weaker teams will be able to get into the final 16.which will reduce quality of play

[@LZ-Cro-minator]

@@zero-ui1ew Actually no. It would come to the same. From each region, the best would go to the knock-out round of the competition. This is how the NBA works in basketball, for example. The idea is great. Maybe more clubs would get a chance to play in the Champions League. This system is a bit too bulky for me.

[@andrewpepper8031]

Just ruin everything to make more money. What fans did they listen too?

[@starxhilmie]

UEFA Super Champions League look weird

[@idontwannaidontwanna7307]

Well done ... Ruining a simple format

[@cameron62349]

Keep it same

[@zainhasan7624]

All uefa want is money

[@ЖенбайЖенбай]

No no format😟😖😡👎

[@ЖенбайЖенбай]

2025

[@ilijabrasic4999]

What happens to 10 games

[@captainfalconmain6576]

They change it to 8 to save the players legs

[@ilijabrasic4999]

@captainfalconmain6576 so only and increase of one game in europe

[@ilijabrasic4999]

@@captainfalconmain6576 at home