The Europa League is undergoing a significant format change for the 2024/25 season, moving away from the traditional group stage to an exciting single league phase, designed to create more competitive matches and drama.
The New League Phase
Instead of the familiar group stage, the competition will now feature a single 36-team league phase. Each participating club will play eight different teams – four matches at home and four away. This diverse set of opponents ensures a wider range of competitive encounters compared to the previous format. All 36 teams will be ranked in one single league table based on their results.
Progression Through the Tournament
The league phase determines qualification for the knockout stages. Here's how teams advance:
- Direct Qualification to Round of 16: The top eight teams in the overall league standings will automatically qualify for the Round of 16, bypassing an initial knockout round.
- Knockout Phase Play-offs: Teams finishing from ninth to 24th position will enter the knockout phase play-offs. These 16 teams will compete in two-legged ties, with the winners progressing to the Round of 16.
- Elimination: Teams finishing 25th or lower in the league standings will be eliminated from the competition.
Once the Round of 16 is set, the tournament proceeds as a straight knockout format, with two-legged ties leading all the way to the final.
League Phase Outcomes at a Glance
| Ranking in League Phase | Next Stage |
|---|---|
| 1st - 8th | Round of 16 (Direct) |
| 9th - 24th | Knockout Play-offs |
| 25th - 36th | Eliminated from Europe |
This new structure aims to offer more diverse matchups, a clearer pathway to the latter stages, and increased stakes throughout the initial phase of the tournament.
