# New Champions League Format 2024: How the Swiss Model Works > UEFA has scrapped the group stage and introduced a 36-team league phase — here's how the new Champions League format works and why it was changed. *Section: Sports — By Tom Bennett (Sports Writer) — Published June 12, 2026 — 8 min read* Canonical URL: https://dailyjunction.org/sports/champions-league-format-2024-explained Tags: Champions League, UEFA, football, European football, Swiss model, format change, knockout stage ## Key takeaways - The 2024–25 Champions League replaced the 32-team group stage with a 36-team 'league phase' using the Swiss model - Each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents (four home, four away) instead of six matches in a four-team group - The top eight teams qualify automatically for the last 16; teams ranked 9th–24th enter a knockout playoff round - The new format adds 64 extra matches to the competition, increasing UEFA's broadcast revenue but adding to fixture congestion - Critics say the changes favour big clubs, reduce jeopardy, and prioritise money over sporting merit For over 20 years, the Champions League followed a familiar rhythm: 32 teams, eight groups of four, six matches per team, and the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage. It was simple, predictable, and occasionally dull, with dead rubbers in the final round of group matches and mismatches between giants and minnows. From the 2024–25 season, all that has changed. UEFA has scrapped the group stage entirely and introduced a **36-team league phase** using the so-called **Swiss model**, adding 64 extra matches, more money, and more complexity. Here is how the new format works, why UEFA made the change, and what it means for clubs and fans. ## The Old Format (1999–2024) To understand the change, it helps to recap the old system: - **32 teams** qualified for the Champions League group stage. - They were divided into **eight groups of four**. - Each team played **six matches** (home and away against the other three teams in their group). - The **top two** from each group advanced to the knockout stage (last 16). - The **third-placed** teams dropped into the Europa League knockout stage. - The **fourth-placed** teams were eliminated. The knockout stage was straightforward: two-legged ties (home and away) from the last 16 through to the semi-finals, then a single-match final at a neutral venue. The format was criticised for being predictable (the big clubs almost always qualified) and for producing too many meaningless matches in the final group games, when some teams had already qualified or been eliminated. ## The New Format (2024–25 Onwards) The new format is radically different: ### 1. Expansion to 36 teams The competition has expanded from 32 to **36 teams**. The four extra places are allocated as follows: - One place to the **third-ranked country** in UEFA's coefficient rankings (currently Germany, so the Bundesliga gets a fifth Champions League place). - One place to the **fifth-ranked country** (currently France, so Ligue 1 gets a third place). - Two places to clubs with the **highest UEFA coefficients** that did not qualify automatically (a safety net for big clubs that finish outside the Champions League places in their domestic league). This expansion was driven by pressure from Europe's biggest clubs, who wanted more guaranteed places and more revenue. ### 2. The league phase (Swiss model) Instead of eight groups of four, all 36 teams are placed in a **single league table**. Each team plays **eight matches** (four home, four away) against eight different opponents. This is the **Swiss model**, borrowed from chess tournaments. The eight opponents are determined by: - **Seeding**: Teams are divided into four pots based on UEFA coefficients (Pot 1 has the strongest teams, Pot 4 the weakest). - **Draw constraints**: Each team plays two opponents from each pot (one home, one away). A computer draw determines the specific fixtures, with constraints to avoid teams from the same country meeting in the league phase. After eight matches, the 36 teams are ranked in a single table based on points (three for a win, one for a draw). Goal difference and other tiebreakers apply if teams are level on points. ### 3. Qualification for the knockout stage - The **top eight** teams in the league table qualify automatically for the **last 16**. - Teams ranked **9th to 24th** enter a **knockout playoff round** (two-legged ties). The winners advance to the last 16 to join the top eight. - Teams ranked **25th to 36th** are eliminated (they do not drop into the Europa League). The knockout playoff round is new. It gives teams ranked 9th–24th a second chance, but it also adds more matches to an already congested calendar. ### 4. Knockout stage From the last 16 onwards, the format is similar to the old system: two-legged ties (home and away) until the final, which is a single match at a neutral venue. However, there is a new **seeding system** for the knockout stage. The top eight teams from the league phase are seeded and will face the playoff winners (teams ranked 9th–24th) in the last 16. This rewards teams for finishing in the top eight and gives them an easier draw. ## Why UEFA Made the Change UEFA's official reasons for the new format are: 1. **More competitive matches** — By giving each team eight different opponents instead of three, the format reduces the number of predictable mismatches and dead rubbers. 2. **More jeopardy** — Teams are competing for position in a single table, so every match matters. There are no "safe" groups where two strong teams coast through. 3. **More opportunities** — The expansion to 36 teams and the playoff round give more clubs a chance to compete at the highest level. The unofficial reason is **money**. The new format adds **64 extra matches** to the competition (from 125 to 189 in total), which means more broadcast revenue, more sponsorship, and more ticket sales. UEFA's broadcast deal for the 2024–27 cycle is worth an estimated **€3.5 billion per year**, up from €3.25 billion in the previous cycle. The expansion also placates Europe's biggest clubs, who had threatened to break away and form a **European Super League** (a proposal that collapsed in 2021 after fan backlash). By giving them more guaranteed places and more revenue, UEFA has bought their loyalty — for now. ## How the Swiss Model Works in Practice The Swiss model is more complex than the old group stage, and it has raised questions about fairness and fixture congestion. ### Fixture selection Each team's eight opponents are determined by a computer draw, with constraints to ensure: - Teams play two opponents from each of the four pots. - Teams do not play opponents from their own country in the league phase. - Teams do not play the same opponent twice. This means that not all teams face the same level of difficulty. A team in Pot 1 might draw relatively weak opponents from Pots 2 and 3, while another Pot 1 team might draw stronger opponents. This has led to complaints that the draw is not entirely fair. UEFA argues that the seeding system and the large number of matches (eight per team) will even out the differences over the course of the league phase. ### Fixture congestion The new format adds more matches to an already packed calendar. Top clubs can now play up to **17 Champions League matches** in a season (eight in the league phase, one in the playoff round, and eight more to reach the final), compared to 13 under the old format. This has sparked complaints from players, managers, and players' unions, who argue that the fixture load is unsustainable and increases the risk of injury. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp have both criticised the expansion. UEFA has responded by saying that only the best teams will play the maximum number of matches, and that clubs have large squads to rotate players. ## Criticisms of the New Format The new format has been widely criticised: ### 1. It favours big clubs The expansion to 36 teams and the safety net for clubs with high UEFA coefficients make it easier for big clubs to qualify, even if they finish outside the top four in their domestic league. This reduces the jeopardy and makes it harder for smaller clubs to break through. The playoff round also gives teams ranked 9th–24th a second chance, which benefits big clubs that underperform in the league phase. ### 2. It prioritises money over sport The addition of 64 extra matches is driven by broadcast revenue, not sporting merit. Critics argue that UEFA is sacrificing the quality and integrity of the competition to maximise profits. ### 3. It is too complex The Swiss model is harder to understand than the old group stage, and the computer-generated draw has been criticised as opaque and unfair. Fans have complained that they do not know who their team will play until the draw is made, and that the format lacks the drama of the old group stage, where teams could be eliminated or qualify in the final round of matches. ### 4. It increases fixture congestion The extra matches add to an already overcrowded calendar, increasing the risk of player burnout and injury. The players' union FIFPRO has warned that the fixture load is unsustainable and has called for limits on the number of matches players can play per season. ## What It Means for English Clubs The new format is good news for English clubs, who are guaranteed **four Champions League places** (and potentially five, if England finishes in the top two of UEFA's coefficient rankings). The Premier League's top four clubs (as of 2024: Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa) qualify automatically for the league phase. If a fifth English club finishes in the top two of UEFA's coefficient rankings, they also qualify. The extra matches mean more revenue for English clubs, who already dominate European football financially. But they also add to the fixture congestion in a league that already plays 38 matches per season, plus domestic cups and European competition. ## The Bottom Line The 2024–25 Champions League replaced the 32-team group stage with a 36-team league phase using the Swiss model, where each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents. The top eight teams qualify automatically for the last 16, while teams ranked 9th–24th enter a knockout playoff round. The new format adds 64 extra matches, increasing UEFA's broadcast revenue but adding to fixture congestion and player workload. Critics say the changes favour big clubs, reduce jeopardy, and prioritise money over sporting merit, while UEFA argues the format is more competitive and gives more clubs a chance to compete. The Swiss model is more complex than the old group stage, and its fairness and sustainability remain contested. For English clubs, the new format means more guaranteed places and more revenue, but also more matches in an already packed calendar. The first season under the new format will be a test of whether UEFA's gamble pays off or whether the competition has lost some of its magic in the pursuit of profit. ## Frequently asked questions ### Why is it called the Swiss model? The format is based on the Swiss system used in chess tournaments, where players face opponents of similar strength without playing everyone. In the Champions League version, teams play eight different opponents selected by seeding and draw constraints, rather than everyone in a small group. ### How are the eight opponents chosen? Teams are seeded into four pots based on UEFA coefficients. Each team plays two opponents from each pot (one home, one away). A computer draw determines the specific fixtures, with constraints to avoid teams from the same country meeting in the league phase. ### Do teams still get knocked out in the league phase? Yes. Teams ranked 25th–36th after the league phase are eliminated. Only the top 24 progress to the knockout stage, with the top eight going straight to the last 16 and teams 9th–24th entering a playoff round. ## Sources - [UEFA — Champions League format](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/) - [The Guardian — Champions League changes explained](https://www.theguardian.com/football/) - [BBC Sport — New Champions League format](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football) --- Daily Junction — https://dailyjunction.org/sports/champions-league-format-2024-explained