UEFA are expected to vote through a reform to the way that the Champions League is structured after the European Club Association put forward a new model.
According to The Athletic understands, the Champions League will switch to a “Swiss-model” from the 2024-25 season which involves every team playing in a single league at the ‘group stage’ meaning a guarantee of at least 10 games.
There will also be an increase to 36 teams in that stage which is four more than the current 32. The extra places would include two teams with the best historical performance that have finished just outside the Champions League spots in their own league. These will be known as the two ‘co-efficient places’ and will be based on performance in Europe over the last five seasons.
Then, a further slot will go to the fifth-best performing league in Europe and there will be a ‘Champions’ pathway in qualification for the 36th and final spot. Therefore, an extra two slots could in theory go to teams in the Premier League, La iga, Serie A or the Bundesliga.
UEFA secretary general Giorgio Marchetti spoke to representatives of Europe’s top side in Vienna today, while it should be discussed by UEFA in April next month before being green lighted in May ahead of being implemented for the start of the 2024-25 season.
