Champions League Group Stage Draw Set for August 29

The draw for the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League group stage is scheduled to occur on August 29, 2024, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. This season marks a significant shift in the tournament's format, expanding from 32 to 36 participating teams. These teams will be divided into a single league standings table, replacing the traditional eight groups of four. Each team will play eight matches against eight different opponents, with four home and four away fixtures, as opposed to the previous six matches against three opponents.

The new format aims to increase the number of high-profile matches and provide more competitive balance throughout the initial phase of the competition. The top eight teams in the league standings will automatically qualify for the knockout stage, while teams finishing from ninth to 24th place will enter a knockout play-off round to secure their spot in the round of 16. Those finishing 25th or lower will be eliminated from all European competitions for the season. This change is designed to ensure that more teams have a meaningful chance of progressing deeper into the tournament.

Qualification for the group stage is determined through various domestic league performances and the winners of the previous season's UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. The exact list of 36 qualified teams will be finalized following the conclusion of all qualifying play-off matches. The seeding for the draw will be based on UEFA's club coefficients, ensuring that top-seeded teams are distributed across the league standings. The draw procedure will involve teams being placed into pots, and specific pairings will be determined to ensure a balanced distribution of matches and avoid excessive travel for clubs.

Following the group stage draw on August 29, the matches will commence on September 17-18, 2024. The league phase will conclude on January 28-29, 2025. The knockout play-offs are scheduled for February 11-12 and February 18-19, 2025. The round of 16 will take place on March 4-5 and March 11-12, 2025. Subsequent knockout rounds will follow, culminating in the final which is set to be held at the Allianz Arena in Munich on May 31, 2025. This expanded format and revised schedule are intended to create a more engaging and unpredictable tournament for fans and participants alike.