Champions League is the world’s premier club competition. Held annually since 1956, the tournament is open only to the champions (and in some cases, one or more runners-up) of Europe’s top national leagues. The winner gains the right to keep a trophy that is almost as cherished as the FIFA World Cup trophy.
Until recently, the championship was played in a simple knockout format. The first sixteen teams qualified and were placed into eight groups of four, with the top two in each group advancing to the round of 16. The round of 16 was then split into quarterfinals and semifinals (both two-legged) before a final at a neutral venue selected by UEFA.
For the 2024-25 season, however, UEFA made significant changes to the tournament structure. The competition moved from a traditional group stage to an expanded league phase, and the number of clubs increased from 32 to 36.
Teams are seeded based on their coefficients, and then divided into four pots of six or seven teams. In the new league phase, each team plays eight matches against opponents from different pots. They earn points for each match won, a draw, and a loss. At the end of the league phase, the teams are ranked in a table resembling a Swiss system tournament table.