Champions League Returns With New Format and Big Money Stakes
The Champions League is back, and this season brings not only some blockbuster fixtures but also a brand-new structure and record-breaking financial rewards for the clubs involved. Before a single ball has even been kicked, huge sums of money have already been guaranteed, setting the stage for one of the most intriguing campaigns we’ve seen in years.
For English football in particular, this year is historic. A record nine Premier League clubs will be competing across UEFA’s competitions. Traditionally, four English clubs qualify directly for the Champions League, but for 2025/26, the number has swelled thanks to Tottenham’s Europa League triumph and Newcastle United’s qualification via UEFA’s performance ranking. Add Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea into the mix, and England has more representatives than any other nation. Spain also benefits, sending five clubs, while Germany and Italy both have four apiece. France, as the fifth-ranked association, has three slots, one of which goes to Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champions. Even Greece has gained a place thanks to PSG’s success.
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The structure of the competition has been transformed. Gone are the old group stages of 32 teams. Instead, 36 clubs are now placed into a single league table, each playing eight matches against eight different opponents. Four of those games will be at home, and four away, drawn from four different seeding pots to ensure a balance of difficulty. After these games, the top eight clubs advance straight to the round of 16, while those finishing 9th to 24th fight through a two-legged playoff to secure the remaining slots. Teams placed 25th or lower are eliminated outright, with no safety net of dropping down into the Europa League as in previous years.
This new format is designed to increase competition while keeping star clubs apart until later rounds. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has described it as a system that balances fairness, commercial growth, and fan excitement, while also providing funds for grassroots development across Europe.
Speaking of money, the numbers are staggering. Around €3.5 billion will be distributed across UEFA competitions this season, with €2.5 billion allocated to the Champions League alone. To put that in perspective, the Champions League’s pot is almost three times larger than the Europa League and Conference League combined. Clubs will earn from three revenue pillars: participation, performance, and what’s called the “value pillar,” which includes broadcasting rights and coefficients. Even before results, every club is assured a hefty payday simply by taking part.
And as the tournament kicks off, there’s another talking point: the most valuable XI of the Champions League, assembled by Transfermarkt data. Surprisingly, only one Italian player makes the cut—goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, now at Manchester City. No Serie A outfield stars are included. Instead, the list is dominated by names like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who currently holds the highest valuation at a staggering €200 million.
So, as Juventus and Barcelona prepare to headline tonight’s fixtures, excitement is running high. The new format promises unpredictability, the financial stakes are greater than ever, and some of the world’s most valuable players are ready to light up Europe. Football fans everywhere are in for a thrilling ride.
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