The 2024/25 Champions League will be an entirely new version as it increases the total number of participating teams from 32 to 36. So how will the four additional teams be chosen?
UEFA has its own ranking system, where they score countries based on their performance in European competitions. Clubs from each country earn points for wins and draws. The cumulative points from the past five seasons determine the country’s ranking.
Additionally, there will be bonus points awarded based on how far a team advances in the competition, which is crucial in determining the additional spots for the next Champions League season.
Among the 4 spots mentioned, 2 spots are reserved for the leagues that perform the best in Europe this season. At the moment, the Belgian and Turkish national leagues have an advantage as they have played more qualifying matches than any other country. However, everything can change rapidly as the Champions League and Europa League progress to the knockout stages.
Furthermore, 1 more spot will be granted to the team that finishes the season in 3rd place in the national league ranked 5th in the UEFA rankings. Currently, the Netherlands, France, and Portugal are fiercely competing for this spot.
The final additional spot will be for the champions outside the top 10 leagues in Europe. They will have to compete among themselves to secure the qualification. Typically, there are 4 teams that go through this route, but starting next season, there will be 5 teams.
