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Champions League Draw: New Format, 36 Teams Vie for Glory
25 Aug
Summary
- 36 teams will compete in the new league phase, playing eight games.
- Top 8 teams advance directly to the last 16; 9-28 face playoffs.
- The draw occurs on Thursday, August 27, starting at 12 PM ET.
This week marks the draw for the new UEFA Champions League league phase, a revamped stage that has garnered positive attention. Thirty-six teams will now compete, with each playing eight matches, four at home and four away. The format's top-performing teams will be rewarded: the top eight finishers will secure a direct path to the knockout stage's last 16 as seeded teams.
Teams securing positions 9 through 28 will enter a two-legged playoff round. The eight victorious teams from these playoffs will advance to the last 16 as unseeded competitors. Unfortunately for those at the bottom, any team finishing between 29th and 36th place will be eliminated from the Champions League and all other European competitions for the season.
The draw is scheduled for Thursday, August 27, beginning at 12 PM Eastern Time. Fans can watch the proceedings live on UEFA's official website. Several prominent clubs from Europe's top leagues have already qualified, including five from the Premier League: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Liverpool.
