How the Champions League works: format, stages and how to qualify
August 21, 2026 · 7 min
The Champions League is the most important club competition in the world, and also one of the ones that has changed the most in recent years. If the new 36-team format left you confused, Golazo Scores walks you through it step by step: how teams qualify, how the league phase works and how they reach the final that brings half of Europe to a standstill.
What the Champions League is
The UEFA Champions League is Europe's premier club competition, organised by UEFA since 1955 (it was previously known as the European Cup). Every season it brings together the best teams on the continent, who earn their place through their performances in their domestic leagues.
Winning it is the greatest achievement a European club can aspire to. The winner lifts the famous 'Big Ears' trophy and then goes on to contest the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
How a team qualifies
Most places are allocated according to finishing position in the domestic league: the strongest leagues (England, Spain, Italy, Germany) send four or more teams, while the rest send fewer, depending on each country's UEFA coefficient.
In addition, the reigning champions are guaranteed a place, and since the new format was introduced there are two extra spots for the associations that perform best in the European season. Teams that don't qualify directly have to go through preliminary qualifying rounds before reaching the main stage.
The league phase: the big change
Since the 2024-25 season, the Champions League has scrapped the four-team groups in favour of a single league phase with 36 teams. Each club plays eight matches against eight different opponents (four at home and four away), but they all share one overall table.
Once those eight matches are over, the top eight go straight through to the round of 16. Teams finishing from 9th to 24th contest a two-legged play-off to complete the bracket, while those from 25th down are eliminated from European competition altogether.
The knockout rounds and the final
From the round of 16 onwards, the tournament goes back to its classic shape: two-legged knockout ties in the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals. Whoever loses on aggregate over the two matches goes home.
The final is a one-off match at a neutral stadium chosen well in advance. Ninety minutes (or 120 plus penalties if needed) to crown the champions of Europe. It is probably the most-watched club match on the planet every year.
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