New format of the Champions League with the Swiss system explained

UEFA have finally approved a new format that will come into effect starting with the 2024/2025 season. The details are settled, the Swiss system is in place.

This is important news for all fans of the Champions League and other UEFA competitions, as the format of the tournaments affects the football forecast. Let’s figure out how everything will work.

What is the Swiss system?

At some point, UEFA reached the peak of revenues from the Champions League, and for a new breakthrough it was necessary to offer the market something new and, as a consequence, more expensive. So a complex solution appeared: a) more matches, b) more competitive matches.

The first challenge has been solved by the expansion of the tournament. It was 32 teams – it is going to be 36. There were 6 rounds at the group stage (3 opponents, with each playing at home and away), and it will become 8 rounds (with 8 opponents, 4 playing at home, 4 playing away).

To solve the second problem the Swiss system, invented in chess, was introduced. There is no longer a division into small groups, all 36 teams are in a single tournament table. Calendar is not predetermined, but depends on successful performance (team at the top will play with the same winning opponents, the outsider will get comparable opponents – so everyone will have a chance to move up in the table, while the outsiders are still guaranteed to play matches with the top teams).

Total – 144 matches in the group stage instead of the current 96, more matches between equal opponents, including more diverse matches between the grands, which attract high ratings.

Almost all of this was settled a year ago. What’s new?

UEFA was going to increase the number of matches even more radically: from 6 to 10 rounds in the group stage. A wave of complaints from players and clubs, who thought that together with the national team competitions, domestic championships and cups, the calendar would be too difficult. Eight was a compromise.

All stages up to the Champions League finals will be played on weekdays. At first it was considered the option of taking some matches on weekends, but the national championships have resisted (on Saturday and Sunday the coverage ratings of the Champions League would have been higher, but such a move would have gradually weakened the business position of domestic leagues).

UEFA decided on the criteria by which the additional four teams would be selected for the Champions League.

Okay, where do the new teams come from?

One direct place in the Champions League goes to the team ranked third in the fifth league of the UEFA coefficient ranking

One additional place will be played in the “Champions’ Way” in the qualification (in fact, these are the champions of the non-top leagues). Previously, four participants in the group stage were determined there (Sheriff, Salzburg, Malmo and Young Boys passed this season), but it will become five.

One more additional place in the Champions League will be given to the two best countries according to the results of the European Cup season (CL + EL + CL). If this rule had been in effect this year, England and the Netherlands would each get an extra team in the league.