(Football news) European football governing body UEFA has expanded the 2024 Champions League to 36 teams, four more than the ongoing format. Two additional places in the new and expanded format will be given to teams with the highest UEFA ranking based on their teams' results in European competitions the previous season. The move is a controversial one, as qualification for Europe’s elite club competition isn’t based on merit due to the new rules, but the strongest five-season record in Europe.

According to the revised edition of the Champions League, teams will be placed in single standings rather than in eight groups and only eight teams will qualify automatically for the Round of 16 but teams who finish upto 24th out of the 36 overall teams will secure entry into the play-offs for the next round. A total of 96 games will be played in the Group Stage, with each team playing eight games instead of ten. The UEFA club competitions committee has agreed to the format tweaks. The plan will now be voted on at the executive committee meeting.

Speaking about the changes, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said “UEFA has clearly shown today that we are fully committed to respecting the fundamental values of sport and to defending the key principle of open competitions, with qualification based on sporting merit, fully in line with the values and solidarity-based European sports model. 

“Today's decisions conclude an extensive consultation process during which we listened to the ideas of fans, players, coaches, national associations, clubs and leagues to name but a few, with the aim to find the best solution for the development and success of European football, both domestically and on the international club stage. We are convinced that the format chosen strikes the right balance and that it will improve the competitive balance and generate solid revenues that can be distributed to clubs, leagues and into grassroots football across our continent while increasing the appeal and popularity of our club competitions"

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