updates
Successful countries benefit
So UEFA plans with new Champions League places
May 10, 2022 at 4:23 p.m
The Champions League will be inflated, from the 2024/25 season 36 clubs will be allowed to play for the title of the premier class. So far, there has been criticism of the implementation of UEFA’s plan. Who gets the additional places will now be decided differently than initially planned.
For the reform of the European Football Cup from the 2024/2025 season, there is agreement on the last outstanding issues. Two of the four additional starting places in the Champions League go to the two previously most successful national associations, the number of group games per team increases from six to eight instead of the previously planned ten. This was announced by the European Football Union UEFA after a decision by the Executive Committee.
As previously decided, a total of 36 clubs will take part in the premier class from 2024. A debate had already broken out about the entry requirements for the four additional clubs compared to the current season. In the original model, two places were to be given to clubs that had had success in European competitions in the past but failed to qualify for the Champions League in their league. Among other things, the merger of the European leagues and fan organizations had criticized this.
“Right balance”
With the regulation that has now been decided, England and the Netherlands would benefit in the current season and each have one more premier class starter in the coming season. The other two additional Champions League places are to go to the fifth-best nation, currently France, and to another national champion who has not been included automatically so far.
“We are convinced that the format chosen strikes the right balance and that it improves the competitive balance and generates stable revenues that can be shared between clubs, leagues and the football base on the continent, while at the same time increasing the popularity of the clubs competitions,” said UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.
The original reform saw the number of preliminary round matches per club increase to ten. This is now reduced to eight. In the current grouping system, each club plays six games before the knockout stage begins. From 2024, a league system will be played in the preliminary round, but not everyone will play against everyone.