The Champions League is the pinnacle of club soccer in Europe. The prestigious tournament is contested by the reigning champions of the top national leagues in Europe, plus a number of high-ranking clubs who earn invitations through other qualification streams. The competition is run by UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, one of the six regional member confederations that comprise global soccer’s governing body, FIFA.
In the current format, thirty-two teams qualify for the group stage, which features eight groups of four. Each team plays each of its opponents twice, once at home and once away, with three points awarded for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout round of 16. The field is whittled down over the course of two-legged quarterfinals and semifinals, until a single game decides the champion.
This year the tournament was revamped to include two extra match rounds in January. In addition, the participating teams were increased from 24 to 36. Teams now play eight different opponents in the league phase (formerly called the group stage). They are placed into four seeded pots, and each team will play two matches against teams in their pot – one at home and one away.
Despite these changes, the Champions League remains a tournament of the very best clubs in the world. It has helped steer billions of euros in prize money and sponsorship revenue to the biggest clubs in the sport, which pay sky-high transfer fees and salaries. But critics have warned that the competition is creating a wider gap between rich and poor in European soccer, as spiraling spending on player transfers and salaries create bigger imbalances in the game.