The anthem is playing, the lights are blazing, and Europe's biggest stage is back. The UEFA Champions League has returned for the 2025/26 season, bringing with it a brand-new format and renewed hopes for football fans across the world.
This year's competition introduces the most radical shake-up in decades. The traditional group stage is gone, replaced by a 36-team league phase designed to deliver more heavyweight clashes and high-stakes drama from the very start.
