UEFA is reportedly considering three significant changes to the Champions League format for next season, with one proposal stemming directly from a complaint raised by Arsenal.
Although the new “Swiss model” league phase was only implemented this season, modifications could potentially be introduced before the next campaign begins.
According to the German source Bild, these three proposed changes for the 2025/26 season are currently under review, with a meeting scheduled soon to discuss them in detail.
The first potential change arises from Arsenal`s concerns that they have frequently been required to play the second legs of their knockout ties away from their home ground.
UEFA is reportedly contemplating revising its regulations to grant teams that achieve a higher ranking in the league phase the advantage of playing the second leg at home during the knockout stages.
Under the current system, teams finishing in the top eight of the league phase bypass a play-off round and automatically secure the home advantage for their round of 16 second leg.
However, this benefit does not extend to the subsequent quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Arsenal, having finished third in the league phase, was required to play the second leg of their quarter-final tie against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. They are also scheduled to play the second leg of their upcoming semi-final against PSG away in Paris.
The club believes their strong league phase finish should be rewarded with the home advantage in the second leg, a sentiment widely supported by many football fans who acknowledge the slight edge it provides.
In contrast, both Real Madrid (who finished 11th) and PSG (15th) finished outside the top eight and had to progress through a play-off match to reach the round of 16.
Furthermore, UEFA is reportedly considering eliminating extra-time.
The European football governing body is contemplating moving directly to penalty shootouts if knockout matches remain level after regular time. This measure aims to mitigate player workload amidst growing concerns over increasing injury rates.
The third proposed modification concerns the possibility of teams from the same domestic league facing each other in the knockout rounds.
Under the format used prior to this season, domestic rivals could not be drawn against one another until after the round of 16.
However, the current league phase system only prevents domestic clashes during the initial phase, allowing teams from the same country to be drawn together from the round of 16 onwards.
This season provided examples of this, with PSG facing fellow Ligue 1 side Brest in the play-offs, and both Bayern Munich playing Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid meeting rivals Atletico Madrid in the round of 16.
UEFA reportedly perceives these early knockout domestic ties as less attractive to both fans and broadcasters and is therefore considering re-introducing the previous rules that prevented such matchups until later stages.
These three proposed rule changes are scheduled for discussion next month in Munich. The meeting of The Club Competitions Committee is set to take place the day before this year`s Champions League final.
