Since the 2024-25 season, the UEFA Champions League has used a completely new format. The traditional group stage of eight groups of four is gone, replaced by a single league table of 36 clubs. If you are confused by the changes, this guide explains every stage.

Stage 1: the league phase

36 clubs take part, up from 32 in the old format. Every club plays eight matches, four at home and four away, against eight different opponents. The opponents are drawn from four seeding pots, so each club faces two teams from each pot. All 36 clubs are ranked in one single table.

What the final table means

• 1st to 8th: qualify directly for the round of 16.
• 9th to 24th: enter a two-legged knockout play-off.
• 25th to 36th: are eliminated from Europe for the season, with no drop into the Europa League.

The top eight also get an advantage later on: they are seeded in the knockout rounds and play the second leg at home.

Stage 2: knockout play-offs

The 16 clubs that finished 9th to 24th play each other over two legs. The winners join the top eight in the round of 16. The draw is partly fixed by league position, so finishing higher gives a theoretically easier path.

Stage 3: the knockouts

From the round of 16 onward the competition looks familiar: two-legged ties in the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals, followed by a single-match final at a pre-selected stadium. The away-goals rule no longer exists, so level ties go to extra time and penalties.

Why UEFA changed the format

UEFA wanted more meaningful matches, more games between big clubs and more drama until the last matchday. Because every point counts toward a place in the top eight or top 24, the final round of the league phase features dozens of matches with something at stake at the same time.

How clubs qualify

Most places go to clubs based on their domestic league finish, with the strongest leagues such as the Premier League and La Liga getting four places. Two extra spots are awarded to the countries whose clubs performed best in Europe the previous season, and the reigning Champions League and Europa League winners are guaranteed a place.

Who has won under the new format?

Paris Saint-Germain won the first edition of the new format in 2025, beating Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich, and retained the trophy in 2026, beating Arsenal on penalties in Budapest after a 1-1 draw. See the full Champions League winners list.