2024-2025 UEFA Champions League Draw Holds On Thursday As New Format Sets In

The 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League is set to be an exciting event with a 36-team league phase, marking a departure from the traditional format.

Unlike previous years, where 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four, the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League will be executed under a new format. The draw for the league phase will take place in Monaco on Thursday, August 29 at 5 p.m. Nigerian time (17:00).

The UEFA website recently confirmed the clubs that have already qualified for the 2024/25 Champions League’s league phase. The fate of other clubs will be determined in the upcoming playoff matches.

The upcoming week in Monaco promises to be bustling with activity as clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League eagerly await to learn their group-stage opponents.

Here are the teams that have qualified for the 2024/25 Champions League’s league phase:

England (4): Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City
Spain (4): Atlético de Madrid, Barcelona, Girona, Real Madrid
Germany (5): Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart
Italy (5): Atalanta, Bologna, Inter Milan, Juventus, AC Milan
France (3): Brest, AS Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain
Netherlands (2): Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven
Portugal (2): Benfica, Sporting CP
Belgium (1): Club Brugge
Scotland (1): Celtic
Austria (1): Sturm Graz
Ukraine (1): Shakhtar Donetsk

The 36-team league phase will include 25 teams that qualified automatically based on their domestic league standings. The holders of the Champions League and UEFA Europa League are also guaranteed a spot, necessitating a re-balancing due to their automatic qualification through domestic league placement.

Moreover, two additional places (Bologna and Dortmund) were filled by the European Performance Spots, while the final seven slots will be determined through qualifying matches.

Note that Russian teams remain suspended from participating in UEFA competitions due to political reasons following the invasion of Ukraine. UEFA has made it clear that the participation of Russian teams will remain suspended until further notice.