The Champions League is the premier international club soccer tournament in Europe. It features some of the top teams in the world and requires more than just skill to win – it takes heart as well. The competition has evolved over time, but the fundamentals remain the same.
The first edition of the tournament was held in 1992-1993. It featured a group stage followed by four knockout rounds, with only the winners progressing to the final. The tournament was renamed the UEFA Champions League in 1994, and expanded to include more teams in the following seasons. In the 2024-25 season, the format was revamped again with a new league phase and bracket path.
In the league phase, clubs play a double round-robin, earning three points for a win and one point for a draw. A series of tiebreaking criteria is used to determine which teams advance to the knockout stage.
After the league phase, the seeding process is based on a team’s club coefficient. The holders of the Champions League and Europa League as well as the champions of the top six domestic leagues automatically qualify for Pot 1 (the highest-ranked clubs). Pots 2 through 4 are ordered by strength based on their performance in previous years’ Champions League.
The teams that finish in the top eight in the group stage are guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals, while those finishing ninth to 24th will participate in a two-legged play-off. For the semi-finals, the teams ranked one through four will be given a home second leg.