The plans for a new European Super League have been left in tatters but the continent's elite competitions are still set for a significant restructure in the coming years.
Manchester United and Manchester City both performed dramatic U-turns and withdrew from the Super League on Tuesday evening, having initially signed up to become founding members of the breakaway competition.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin welcomed the rebel clubs, which also included Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool, back into the fold and, if they qualify, the Premier League sides will continue to play in the Champions League and Europa League.
On Monday, overshadowed by the unfolding Super League fiasco, UEFA approved changes to the Champions League structure in line with a 'Swiss model' which is due to come into effect for the 2024/25 season.
Crucially, UEFA has confirmed that the new rules will 'retain the principle that domestic performance should be the key to qualification'.
Each team involved will be guaranteed at least 10 matches per season, an increase on the six group-stage matches currently assured. Here, we've detailed all the major details.
The format
- The total number of teams in the Champions League will increase from 32 to 36.
- The group stages will be replaced with a single league format involving all 36 clubs.
- Every club will play at least 10 matches (five home, five away) against 10 different clubs.
- Top eight sides qualify for the knockout stage.
- Teams from ninth to 24th will compete in two-legged play-offs to secure a spot in the knockout stage.
- Similar changes will be applied to the Europa League (eight group matches) and Conference League (six group matches) - and could also still be expanded to the full 36-team format.
Qualification for the Champions League will continue to be 'open and earned through a team’s performance in domestic competitions'.
One of the additional places will go to the club ranked third in the championship of the association in fifth position in the UEFA national association ranking.
Another will be awarded to a domestic champion by extending from four to five the number of clubs qualifying via the so-called 'Champions Path'.
The final two places will go to the clubs with the highest club co-efficient over the last five years that have not qualified for the Champions League group stage but have qualified either for the Champions League qualification phase, the Europa League or the Europa Conference League.
All matches before the final will be played in midweek.
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