Champions League draw system is changing!

UEFA will increase the number of teams in the Champions League from 32 to 36 starting from the 2024-2025 season. In the new system, the traditional group stage will be replaced by a league format. In the new model, referred to as the Swiss system, the tournament will be played in a league format.

In the single-league format involving 36 teams, each team will play 8 matches against 8 different opponents, four at home and four away. Teams will be divided into four pots of nine. Each team will face eight different opponents, two from each pot.

CHANGE IN THE DRAW SYSTEM 

According to information reported by NTV Spor from SKY Sports, the expanded new format of the Champions League will also cause a change in the draw.

UEFA draw simulations showed that a manual draw for the new format would take 3-4 hours and require a total of 900 balls.

Finding this duration too long, UEFA officials decided to use a hybrid method for the new format's draw. Accordingly, clubs will be drawn manually, and then a computer will take control and select the 8 opponents that the teams will face in the league phase.

The new draw model is expected to take approximately 35 minutes. It was stated that this duration is the same as the draw in the current format.

The software will also take country protection into account, and except for very unusual circumstances, clubs will not play against opponents from their own country. Clubs will face a maximum of two opponents from the same country. 

It was learned that a British IT company will develop the software that will perform the digital part of the draw, and there will also be two backup software systems. The new draw system will be audited by the audit and consulting firm Ernst & Young. 

News Source: 12punto