The UEFA Champions League currently operates under a new format that started in the 2024-25 season. The tournament features 36 teams competing in a single "league phase" instead of the traditional group stage format. Here's how it works:
- All 36 teams are ranked together in one large league.
- Each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents: four games at home and four away.
- After these matches, teams are ranked from 1 to 36.
- The top 8 teams automatically qualify for the round of 16.
- Teams ranked 9 through 24 enter a knockout playoff round, playing two-legged ties to earn the remaining 8 spots in the round of 16.
- Teams ranked 25 and lower are eliminated from the competition.
- The knockout rounds then proceed in a traditional two-legged format, culminating in a single-leg final in May.
- There is no longer an opportunity to drop into the Europa League during or after the Champions League.
The draw for the league phase involves teams being split into four pots based on seeding. Each team is drawn to play two opponents from each pot, with a balance of home and away matches. Clubs from the same country do not face each other in this phase, but this restriction ends from the knockout rounds onward. This format aims to increase the variety and competitiveness of matches by having teams face more varied opponents early on. This explanation covers the basics of how the Champions League works under the current format.
