UEFA announces 2025 Champions League draw format

UEFA announced the new system for the Champions League draw for the current 2024-2025 season.

UEFA decided to make wholesale changes to the format and system of continental tournaments, as 36 teams will participate in the Champions League instead of 32 in the old system.

According to a video clip published by the Champions League account on the X platform, the draw scheduled for August 29, 2024, will be done automatically using a computer, not manually as was customary.

In the league stage (groups in the old system), each team will play 8 matches against 8 different clubs, instead of facing 3 teams home and away.

ℹ️ New format. New draw.#UCLdraw | #UELdraw | #UECLdraw pic.twitter.com/QKTwVPMhQU

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 20, 2024

The 36 teams are scheduled to be divided into 4 pots, according to the UEFA classification, with the exception of the Champions League title holder (Real Madrid), to be placed in first place in the first pot.

After that, two opponents will be selected from each pot (8 opponents in total), and they will play one match against one at home and one match against the other away, noting that they cannot face an opponent from the same country, while they can meet against a maximum of two teams from another country.

The modern draw system will apply to the Europa League, while in the European Conference League, each team will face only 6 opponents, one from each of the 6 pots according to the ranking.