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UEFA Could Decide on New Champions League Format Next Week

GENEVA (AP) — Changing the Champions League to a 36-team format featuring games from 2024 could be agreed by UEFA next week, a member of its executive committee said Friday.

Lars-Christer Olsson, who represents Europe’s domestic leagues on the UEFA ruling committee, said it plans to meet on Wednesday if a proposal is ready to be approved.

The preferred option that includes abolishing the traditional group stage could be agreed Tuesday by UEFA’s club competitions committee.

There is consensus between UEFA and leaders of European soccer’s top clubs and leagues to add four entries to the Champions League with the teams playing in a single 36-team standings from the 2024-25 season— a variation of the so-called “Swiss system” used in chess tournaments.