UEFA has firmly rejected any potential alterations to the Champions League format following discussions with representatives from the Super League. Despite reports of meetings between UEFA officials and A22 Sports Management, the company spearheading the Super League initiative, the governing body has reiterated its commitment to the current structure of its premier club competition.
Recent proposals from the Super League organizers included dividing clubs into two groups based on rankings at the initial stage and broadcasting matches on a free-to-air platform. However, UEFA has confirmed that these talks did not yield any formal results and that there are "no intentions to change the format of the UEFA Champions League".
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has emphasized the importance of maintaining open competition within European soccer. He highlighted the need for unity, balance, and reforms that strengthen all teams, not just a select few. Ceferin has also stated that UEFA would never organize a competition for only 12 clubs.
The initial Super League project, announced in 2021 by twelve of Europe's leading clubs, faced widespread condemnation from fans, governments, and the broader football community. The plan, which would have guaranteed permanent membership for 15 top clubs regardless of their domestic performance, was perceived as a threat to the existing football pyramid. Although the project collapsed shortly after its announcement, A22 revived the concept following a 2023 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union that UEFA's restrictions on rival competitions could breach EU competition law. A22 then launched a revised proposal for a 96-team league across four divisions, featuring promotion, relegation, and a women's tournament.
The Champions League underwent significant format changes for the 2024-2025 season. The competition expanded from 32 to 36 teams, and the traditional group stage was replaced with a single league phase. In this new format, each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents, with four matches at home and four away. The top eight teams in the league phase automatically qualify for the round of 16. Teams finishing between ninth and 24th enter a two-legged knockout play-off to determine the remaining eight spots in the round of 16. Teams finishing 25th to 36th are eliminated from the competition. The format has been retained for the 2025–26 season.
The current format ensures that a significant number of teams from across Europe have the opportunity to participate in the Champions League. The number of teams each association enters is based on UEFA coefficients, which reflect the performance of clubs from that association in European competitions over the previous five seasons. Associations ranked higher in the coefficient table receive more slots in the Champions League and face fewer qualification rounds.
