UEFA is seriously considering one of the most significant rule changes in Champions League history as part of efforts to reduce the workload on elite players.
This season, the tournament introduced a new format, replacing the traditional group stage with a league phase. The change added two extra matchdays, requiring clubs to face eight different opponents in the first round. The top eight teams from the 36-team league qualify directly for the round of 16, while those ranked ninth to 24th compete in a knockout round for the remaining spots.
While it is too early to fully assess the impact of the new format, concerns have been raised by players and managers over the increased number of matches, especially with the expanded Club World Cup—including 12 European teams—set to take place at the end of the season.
To address fixture congestion, UEFA is now considering another major change: removing extra time from knockout matches. According to The Guardian, discussions on this proposal are gaining momentum, with the idea being that games would go directly to penalties if still tied after two legs of 90 minutes.
Since the current TV rights deal runs until 2027, any changes are unlikely before the 2027/28 season, but they have not been ruled out. This would be the first major adjustment to the Champions League format aimed at easing scheduling pressures, following similar moves in domestic competitions, such as the removal of FA Cup replays.
Eliminating extra time in the latter stages of the Champions League would align with UEFA’s 2023 decision to scrap extra time in the Super Cup and would be the most significant change to knockout rounds since the away goals rule was abolished in 2021.
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