2024-25 UEFA Champions League: New Format, Expanded Teams

36-Team League Phase to Debut, 12 European Clubs in US Tournament

Bologna, Dortmund Secure Additional Berths

The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League will mark a historic milestone with the introduction of a new 36-team league phase format. This expansion reflects the growing competitiveness of European club football and aims to offer more teams an opportunity to compete at the highest level.

Two of the four additional places in the expanded league phase have been secured by Bologna from Italy and Dortmund from Germany. These two clubs join an impressive list of teams that have already qualified, including Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart, RB Leipzig, Inter Milan, Juventus, and Atalanta.

The new format will kick off on July 9, 2024, and culminate in the final match on May 31, 2025. The league phase will see the 36 teams divided into four groups of nine, with the top four teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage.

One notable aspect of the new format is the inclusion of a 32-team tournament to be held in the United States. Twelve European clubs will participate in this tournament, which will take place from June 15 to July 13, 2025.

For Dortmund, the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League provides an opportunity for redemption. Eleven years after their heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the 2013 final at Wembley Stadium, they will return to the same venue hoping to lift the coveted trophy.

The expanded Champions League format promises to deliver even more excitement, drama, and opportunities for underdog teams to make history. As the competition approaches, football fans around the world can eagerly anticipate the spectacle that lies ahead.