Get ready for a fresh twist in the Champions League as UEFA unveils a groundbreaking draw format for the 2024/25 season. Discover the new rules, team groupings, and where to watch the historic event live.
UEFA is set to host the Champions League group stage draw in Monaco today (August 29), taking place in the prestigious Grimaldi Forum. This season marks a significant shift, with the tournament expanding from 32 to 36 teams.
What’s New in the Champions League Format?
For the first time ever, UEFA will introduce a complex new format. Gone are the days of star-studded draw ceremonies; this year, a computer will handle the draw to streamline the process. The new format is so intricate that if it were conducted using traditional methods, it would require nearly 1,000 balls and at least 36 containers—a lengthy affair indeed.
The 36 participating teams will be divided into four seeding pots based on their UEFA coefficient rankings. The seeding pots are as follows:
Pot 1: Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, PSG, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Barcelona.
Pot 2: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atlético Madrid, Atalanta, Juventus, Benfica, Club Brugge, Shakhtar Donetsk, and AC Milan.
Pot 3: Feyenoord, Sporting Lisbon, PSV Eindhoven, Dinamo Zagreb, Salzburg, Lille, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys, and Celtic.
Pot 4: Slovan Bratislava, Monaco, Sparta Prague, Aston Villa, Bologna, Girona, Stuttgart, Sturm Graz, and Brest.
Unlike previous seasons, the group stage will not follow the old format. Instead, teams will play a round-robin format, facing eight different opponents—two from each seeding pot. This change means that each team will have 8 matches, an increase from the previous 6. The top 8 teams will advance directly to the Round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 16th will enter a playoff against teams ranked 17th to 24th. The remaining 12 teams will be eliminated, with no drop-down to the Europa League as in past formats.
How to Watch the Draw Live: Fans can catch the live draw for free on UEFA’s official website (uefa.com). It will also be broadcast on various UEFA partner channels
When Does the Group Stage Start: The group stage of the Champions League 2024/25 will commence on September 17, 2024, and conclude on January 29, 2025. With each team playing 8 matches, this stage will extend about a month longer than previous seasons.
