UEFA explainer of how knockout stages unfold

UEFA explainer of how knockout stages unfold  22/01/2025  uefa24

Transcript

00:00How will the new knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League work?

00:07Let's take a closer look.

00:10The 24 best ranked teams from the league phase qualify for the knockout rounds.

00:15The top 8 sides progress directly to the round of 16,

00:19while teams ranked 9 to 24 must first face each other in the knockout round playoffs to join the top 8.

00:27The knockout phase has evolved into a seeded bracket system and is identical across all three competitions.

00:36Every position in the league ranking counts.

00:39Finishing higher in the league phase secures a better seed in the bracket,

00:44guaranteeing a lower ranked opponent and playing the second leg at home in the knockout playoffs for teams ranked 9 to 16

00:53and in the round of 16 for those in the top 8.

00:57Beginning with the knockout round playoffs draw.

01:00Clubs will be paired based on their ranking.

01:03Clubs finishing 9th and 10th will play teams 23rd and 24th.

01:09Teams ranked 11th and 12th will face teams ranked 21st and 22nd and so on.

01:18Teams within each of these pairs will be drawn and placed on opposite sides of the bracket

01:26to complete the fixtures for the knockout round playoffs.

01:32In the round of 16 draw, teams that finish 1st through 8th in the league phase

01:38will also be paired and drawn to opposite sides of the bracket against their opponents.

01:44This draw will determine the paths for the remaining rounds of the competition

01:50with clubs progressing on their drawn side until the final.

01:56The new UEFA knockout phase.

01:59More excitement, more drama and more unforgettable moments.