A bold evolution of Europe’s most prestigious club competition is once again on the horizon. After a dramatic reformatting of the UEFA Champions League this season, which saw the introduction of a 36-team league-style phase, UEFA is already considering additional changes that could significantly reshape the future of the tournament. Among them is one particularly controversial idea: the potential removal of extra time.
These discussions, driven by concerns over player workload and the fairness of the new structure, have caught the attention of clubs and fans alike. The UEFA committee is scheduled to meet in Munich on May 30 to deliberate on three key proposals.
Interestingly, the Champions League is no stranger to evolution. This year’s overhaul, shifting away from the traditional group stage to a Swiss-style league format, was already a monumental shift. It allowed teams to face more opponents in the first phase and introduced a new dynamic to qualification for the knockout stages.
However, according to the German outlet Bild, UEFA may not be done. “The confederation has finally decided to consider abolishing extra time,” they report. “If the score is tied after 90 minutes of the second leg, the teams will proceed directly to a penalty shootout.”
The three major proposed changes
Now, as the season nears its conclusion, clubs and officials are turning their eyes toward the competition’s next iteration. Three proposed changes are currently being discussed by UEFA’s committee:
No extra time in Knockout Rounds
This change is perhaps the most dramatic. UEFA is considering eliminating extra time in all knockout matches, starting from the round of 16. The aim is to reduce player fatigue, especially as elite footballers face congested fixture lists due to overlapping domestic competitions, European tournaments, and an expanded Club World Cup this summer.
“To alleviate this to some extent,” writes Bild, “there is a proposal to abolish extra time… This would ensure less strain and the possibility of arriving in better condition for matches in their domestic leagues.”
However, this proposal faces resistance from those who argue that extra time offers more opportunities for advertising revenue during broadcasts—both via television and in-stadium exposure. In an era where commercial interests weigh heavily on sporting decisions, it’s unclear whether UEFA will follow through.
Greater home advantage for top 8 teams
The current rules grant the top eight teams from the league phase automatic passage to the round of 16, along with the privilege of playing the return leg at home. Now, UEFA is weighing the idea of extending this advantage deeper into the tournament.
If approved, top-eight finishers would retain home advantage in the second leg not only in the round of 16 but also in the quarterfinals and semifinals, provided they face an opponent that qualified via the playoff round.
This would further reward strong performances in the early phase and offer a strategic advantage in high-stakes matches, where home support and familiar surroundings can be decisive.
Return of ‘country protection’ in the Round of 16
In the revamped format, clubs from the same country can now face each other as early as the round of 16—a change from the previous 32-team format, where such clashes were prohibited until the quarterfinals.
This year, that led to ties like PSG vs. Brest, which some considered underwhelming from a European competition standpoint. UEFA is now considering reinstating the “country protection” rule to prevent domestic clashes until the final eight.
According to Bild, “This is considered disadvantageous and too early… The fraternal clashes would only start from the quarterfinals.”
