A significant structural change is coming to the UEFA Champions League starting from the 2025/26 season. UEFA has officially announced the end of random draws to decide which club hosts the second leg in the knockout stages. Instead, this critical advantage will now be based on performance during the league phase.
What’s Changing?
Under the new format, home-field advantage in the knockout rounds will be earned based on overall standings in the league phase—part of UEFA’s ongoing shift toward a more performance-based format.
Here’s how it works:
- Top 2 teams in the league phase standings will be rewarded with second-leg home matches in every knockout round—up to the final.
- Teams ranked 3rd and 4th will get to host the second leg in both the round of 16 and the quarter-finals.
- Teams ranked 5th to 8th will be guaranteed the second leg at home in the round of 16.
Special Rule: The Inheritance Clause
In a twist that adds even more strategy and drama to the knockout rounds, UEFA has introduced an “inheritance” clause. If a lower-ranked club eliminates a Top 4 side in the round of 16, it will inherit that team’s home advantage in future rounds. This could significantly impact how clubs approach their matchups and squad management.
Applies to All European Competitions
This new system isn’t exclusive to the Champions League. UEFA confirmed it will also be implemented in both the Europa League and the Europa Conference League, making consistency a priority across all European competitions.
Why This Matters
The second leg at home has long been seen as a tactical advantage, allowing clubs to respond on familiar ground with full crowd support. By awarding this edge based on performance, UEFA aims to increase the competitive integrity of the league phase while incentivizing top placement.
This marks another step in UEFA’s broader Champions League evolution, which already includes the expansion to a single league table and more matches in the group stage.
Stay tuned as the 2025/26 season approaches, promising a new era of strategy, stakes, and structure in European football.