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**Title**: UEFA Champions League 2024-25: New Format Explained

**S**a**p**o**: The UEFA Champions League format is set to undergo a major overhaul in the 2024-25 season, with the number of teams increasing from 32 to 36 and the introduction of a new Swiss-style league system.

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**Article**:

The UEFA Champions League is the pinnacle of European club football, and its format has been undergoing changes over the years. For the 2024-25 season, the format is set to undergo a major overhaul, with the number of teams increasing from 32 to 36 and the introduction of a new Swiss-style league system.

Under the new format, the 36 teams will be divided into four groups of nine teams each. Each team will play eight matches, four at home and four away, against eight different opponents from their group. The top eight teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, which will consist of two-legged ties in the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals. The final will be a single match played at a neutral venue.

The 36 teams that will qualify for the Champions League will be determined by their performance in their domestic leagues and European competitions. The top four teams from each of the six strongest leagues in Europe (England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Portugal) will qualify automatically for the group stage.

The fifth-placed team from each of the six strongest leagues, as well as the winners of the Europa League and the Europa Conference League, will enter the play-off round. The play-off round will consist of two-legged ties, with the winners advancing to the group stage.

The remaining 20 teams will qualify for the Champions League through the qualifying rounds. The qualifying rounds will be held in the summer, with teams from lower-ranked leagues competing for a place in the group stage.

The new format of the Champions League is designed to make the competition more exciting and competitive. The increase in the number of teams will give more clubs the opportunity to compete in the tournament, and the Swiss-style league system will ensure that every team plays a variety of opponents.

The new format is also expected to generate more revenue for UEFA and the clubs involved. The increased number of matches will mean more television revenue, and the new league system will make it easier for fans to follow their teams.

The new format of the Champions League also faces some challenges. The increase in the number of matches could lead to fixture congestion for the clubs involved, and the Swiss-style league system could make it difficult for teams to qualify for the knockout stage.

However, UEFA is confident that the new format will be a success. The new format is designed to make the Champions League more exciting and competitive, and it is expected to generate more revenue for UEFA and the clubs involved.