With the 2024/25 season upon us.
European crown
The league is set to receive a brand new format, which will also mean significant changes to the way the draw is made. The draw for the new European season is scheduled to take place in Monte Carlo on August 29 and 30, where this new draw mechanism will be revealed in detail.
The new Champions League season will feature 36 teams, replacing the previous 32-team group stage. This change will increase the competitiveness and spectacle of the competition, bringing more balanced matchups. Unlike the previous double round-robin group stage, each team will play eight matches against eight different teams in the new league stage, rather than a home-and-away double round-robin against three teams in the same group.
In order to accommodate the new format, UEFA has introduced a new draw, with the 36 teams being divided into four groups according to their club's European points, with the defending Champions League winners automatically placed at the top of the first group. Each team will draw two opponents from each bracket to play home and away matches. The traditional principle of same-country avoidance remains in force, as a team will not play a team from the same country and will face a maximum of two teams from other countries in the same country.
The new draw process will be conducted with the aid of computer software. After each team's draw ball has been drawn manually, the computer software will automatically assign the team's eight opponents, which will be displayed in real time on a large screen in the draw room. The home and away assignments for the matches will also be determined by the software, ensuring randomness and fairness throughout the process. In order to avoid any draw jams, the software will operate in accordance with the established rules framework (e.g., equal country avoidance, etc.).
The draw software was developed by AE Live, which has been an official partner of UEFA since September 2023 and specializes in the draw process for its tournaments.AE Live's software has been rigorously tested to ensure that it integrates both internal and external checks on mechanisms to guarantee the accuracy and fairness of the results.
The entire lottery process will be conducted under the supervision of the external auditors, Ernst & Young. They will review the randomness of the draw, ensure compliance with the rules and provide full control and validation of the entire manual and computerized draw process.
All teams will be informed about their opponents immediately after the draw. The exact fixtures and kick-off times for the Champions League will be announced on August 31st. This arrangement is designed to avoid scheduling clashes with the UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League and to ensure that no multiple matches are played in the same city at the same time.
The introduction of the new format and the new draw mechanism will provide fans with a refreshing Champions League experience, and the intensity and unpredictability of the competition will be further enhanced.
