UEFA have announced that the Champions League reforms have been adopted. Its operation will change considerably, from 2024-2025. France could be a winner, if they stay 5and in the UEFA ranking: the third in Ligue 1 would be directly qualified.
This Tuesday, UEFA confirmed that the new format of the Champions League will be effective from the 2024-2025 season. The number of participants will then be 36, compared to 32 today. The traditional group stage will be replaced by a championship bringing together all the teams, arranged in 4 pots of 9. Each participant will play 8 matches against different opponents: 4 at home and 4 away. The first 8 will qualify for the round of 16 of the competition. The formations classified between the 9and and the 24and place will compete in a play-off to join the same final phase. The others should not a priori be donated for the Europa League.
The Europa League and Europa League Conference will undergo the same type of transformation, with championships providing for 8 and 6 matches respectively. In addition, UEFA will now allocate 2 places in the Champions League to countries whose clubs are the most successful on the European scene, in the current season. France will benefit from a third direct qualification for the Champions League, if it maintains its position in the UEFA ranking: the third in the ranking would then no longer have to go through a jump-off to reach the first round.