UEFA reportedly will make significant changes to its Champions League (UCL) format starting from the 2025/26 season.
A year after the introduction, the report now indicates that the newly introduced UCL format may undergo new changes before the 2025/2026 season.
According to an ESPN report, European Football Governors will amend regulations to ensure clubs that perform better at the league stage will gain the advantage of the second leg of all knockout ties at home.
The decision is after a notable example of the 2024/25 season, clubs that ranked higher in the league stage do not get this advantage due to the open format currently used in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Arsenal and Barcelona, who finished third and second respectively, were both drawn to their second leg in the semifinals leaving home.
Their opponents Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain finished fourth and fifteenth in the league stage, presided over the decisive second leg before advancing to the finals.
The current Champions League structure has been reformed under the new Swiss model, with each playing 8 different opponents in the 36 teams on a league table. Under this system, only the first eight teams were previously guaranteed to host the second round in 16 rounds.
The subsequent round was affected by random draws, and many clubs and observers felt high performance competition rewards in the league stage.
Starting next season, the knockout order will depend on the rankings of the league stage, ensuring that the team with superior records plays for the second leg at home.
The European Rugby Club Competition Committee approved the adjustments aimed at increasing equity and enhancing the value of the league stage throughout the competition before the 2025 Champions League final.
Although formal regulations for the 2025/26 campaign have been issued, the change still requires approval from the Executive Committee of the European Union.
If confirmed, this update will be strategic for the club, adding as high motivation as possible during the league stage, not only ensuring eligibility but also maintaining competitive leverage in the knockout round.
The report also shows that the European Union and the League of Conferences have also considered similar changes, a broad move by UEFA to standardize rules in its mainland games and further highlights the importance of consistency throughout the season.
