Champions League
From the 2024/2025 season onwards, the Champions League got a completely new format. Instead of eight groups of four, there is now one big competition - the league phase - with 36 clubs in a single table. This guide explains step by step how the tournament works: from the league phase and the draw to the play-offs, the round of 16 and the final.
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The new format in brief
The key points of the current format:
- 36 clubs (previously 32) in one shared league phase - no separate groups anymore.
- Each club plays 8 matches against 8 different opponents (4 home, 4 away).
- A single overall table decides who advances to the knockout phase.
The league phase explained
All 36 clubs sit in one table. For the draw they are split into four pots based on their UEFA coefficient. Each club draws two different opponents from each of the four pots - together good for 8 matches, one home and one away per pot.
An example: a top club from pot 1 can draw both another European heavyweight and a debutant. As a result, the league phase produces far more varied fixtures than the old group stage, and one shared table keeps things exciting right up to the final matchday.
Points and standings
A win is worth 3 points, a draw 1 and a defeat 0. After 8 matchdays, the final league phase standings are drawn up.
Level on points (tie-breakers)
If clubs are level on points, the order is decided by: goal difference, goals scored, away goals scored, and then, among other things, number of wins. That way every club gets a unique place from 1 to 36.
Who goes through to the knockout phase?
The knockout phase
The road to the title runs via: play-offs → round of 16 → quarter-finals → semi-finals → final. All rounds up to and including the semi-finals are played over two legs (home and away); the final is a single match at a neutral venue.
Key rules of play
- If a tie is level after two legs, extra time follows and, if needed, penalties.
- The away goals rule has been abolished - an away goal no longer counts double.
- VAR is used in all matches.
What has changed?
In the past there were 32 clubs in 8 groups of 4, with 6 group matches per club and the third-placed teams dropping down to the Europa League. Now there are 36 clubs in one league phase, 8 matches per club, and the safety net to the Europa League disappears. The idea: more marquee fixtures and more tension right up to the final matchday.
What is at stake?
The Champions League is the highest stage in European club football, and there is a lot riding on it. Participants earn considerable prize money, which increases the further a club progresses in the tournament. The winner also qualifies for the UEFA Super Cup and is guaranteed a spot in the next edition. The prestige and the market value of players and club weigh heavily too - one strong Champions League season can benefit a club for years.
And qualification?
Not every club is immediately sure of the league phase. Through several qualifying rounds and play-offs, clubs - including Belgian ones - battle for a ticket. You can read exactly how those rounds work and which Belgian clubs are involved in the separate guide.
Qualification explained →Key dates - season 2026/2027
Everything about the draw & pots →FAQ
How many clubs take part in the Champions League?
36 clubs, together in one league phase.
How many matches does each club play in the league phase?
8 matches - 4 home and 4 away, against 8 different opponents.
Who qualifies directly for the round of 16?
The top 8 of the league phase. Places 9 to 24 play a play-off round for the last tickets.
What happens when clubs are level on points?
The order is then decided by goal difference, goals scored, away goals and number of wins.
Can a club still drop down to the Europa League?
No. In the current format there is no drop-down to the Europa League anymore: places 25 to 36 are eliminated.
When is the 2027 final?
On Saturday 5 June 2027, at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid.
How many Belgian clubs take part in 2026/2027?
Two: Club Brugge is directly qualified for the league phase as champions, and Union Saint-Gilloise is trying to qualify through the qualifying rounds.
More Champions League guides
Standings, draw, results and more.
Qualifying rounds, play-offs and the Belgian clubs.
How the draw works, with the pot breakdown.
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