When is the Champions League 2024/25 league phase draw? | OneFootball

With domestic football now back across Europe, the return of the Champions League is just around the corner.

Since July, teams have been competing to reach the Champions League league phase, beginning with three qualifying rounds before reaching the play-offs, which end on August 28th.

Once that is concluded, all 36 participants will eagerly await the draw as Europe’s premier club tournament enters a new era.

So, as things stand, who have already booked their place in the upcoming draw, and when is it? Read on to find out everything you need to know…

When is the Champions League draw?

The draw for the group stage of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League will take place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on 29th August 2024.

A new format means changes to how the Champions League draw will be conducted. Instead of former footballers picking out balls from pots to determine groups, automated software will now randomly draw eight opponents for each team from four pots and allocate which teams play at home and away.

What is the new Champions League format?

This year’s Champions League will feature a new format. Instead of 32 teams being divided into eight groups of four, all 36 teams will form a single league. Each team will play four games at home and four away, making eight fixtures – two more than in the previous format. These eight matches will be against eight different opponents. This is known as the ‘Swiss Model’, most commonly used in chess

After the competition’s initial phase, the league’s top eight teams will advance directly to the last-16. Teams ranked ninth to 24th must compete in a play-off round, while teams finishing 25th or lower will be eliminated from all European competition.

The 36 clubs will be divided into four pots based on their club coefficients at the start of the season. Each team will play against two teams from each pot, once at home and once away. Pot 1 will consist of the defending champions, Real Madrid, and other strong club sides with high UEFA coefficients.

Country protection rules will continue to apply where possible, except to avoid deadlock situations. Clubs from the same country cannot play each other in the league phase, and you can only play two opponents from the same country.

Why the change?

The upcoming format change is the most significant in 20 years since the era of two group-stage mini-leagues before the knockouts. Europe’s governing body states that the changes are intended to ensure the bright future of European football at all levels and to accommodate the changing needs of all involved parties.

Furthermore, the new league format will involve more European teams in each competition. It will allow fans to see more top European matches and those that take place earlier in the competition.

Plus, it will create a more balanced competition among all teams, allowing each team to play opponents of similar skill levels throughout the league phase.

Every game is important. The new league format will ensure that any result can significantly affect a team’s position right up to the very last matchday. Winning or losing the last game of the league phase could determine whether a team qualifies automatically for the last 16, enters the playoffs, or gets eliminated from the competition.

Where can I watch the Champions League draw live?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the 2024/25 Champions League league phase draw live on TNT Sports.

Which teams have already qualified for the Champions League?

The qualifying rounds are ongoing, although many qualified clubs are already known. Brest from Ligue 1 and Girona from La Liga will be making their debuts in European competition. Germany and Italy have earned an extra spot in the competition due to their clubs performing the best in last season’s UEFA competitions.

When will the Champions League fixtures be played?

Due to two additional rounds of fixtures, the first phase of the Champions League will now continue into January. The added fixtures and resulting calendar pressure have removed FA Cup replays in England. Below are the matchdays for the league phase:

Real Madrid played 13 games on their way to last season’s triumph. A club could theoretically play 17 fixtures en route to the trophy if they feature in the play-off round.