OFFICIAL: UEFA Confirms That The Champions League Will Expand To 36 Teams From The 24/25 Season.

The European Football governing body UEFA, have confirmed the final format and access list for European club competitions as of the 2024/25 season, introducing the "Swiss system"

The number of teams in the Champions League will rise from 32 to 36 from the 2024-25 season under changes approved by Uefa.

Under the new format, each team will play eight games over 10 match weeks.

Two of the additional four places will be awarded on the basis of the highest performing countries in each individual season of Uefa club competition.

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said it meant "the dream to participate will remain for all clubs".

A previous proposal to award two Champions League places to clubs on the basis of their historic performance in European competition will not come into effect.

Uefa, though, rejected a proposal to allow clubs into the competition solely on the basis of past performance - something critics argued would have favoured 'bigger' names and provided them with a safety net if they performed poorly in a season.

It has also modified an initial plan to increase the number of games in the group phase per team from six to 10 - instead raising the number of matches to eight.

"Uefa has clearly shown today that we are fully committed to respecting the fundamental values of sport and to defending the key principle of open competitions, with qualification based on sporting merit, fully in line with the values and solidarity-based European sports model," said Ceferin.

"We are convinced that the format chosen strikes the right balance and that it will improve the competitive balance and generate solid revenues that can be distributed to clubs, leagues and into grassroots football across our continent while increasing the appeal and popularity of our club competitions."

▶ Group stages are replaced by one big league table.

▶ Clubs will play 8 different teams in the league-based group stage (four away and four at home).

▶ Teams finishing in 9th-24th place will compete in a two-legged play-off to secure their path to the last 16.

▶ 2 places awarded to clubs from the countries who performed best in Europe in the previous season.

▶ 100 additional games.