New Europa League format explained

New Europa League format explained - league phase, AI draw and prize money

Seismic changes are coming to European club football for the 2024/25 season, with UEFA launching a revamped league phase format across all three of its top competitions - including the Europa League.

Rangers will join total of 36 teams to battle it out in a single league table in a bid to reach the Europa League knockouts as we wave goodbye to the traditional group stages.

The Europa League draw will take place at 12pm UK time on Friday, August 30, with the final on 21 May 2025 at the Estadio de San Mamés in Bilbao.

What is the new Europa League format?

This year’s Europa League will follow the same new format as the revamped Champions League, expanding from 32 teams to 36 competing in a single league table.

Teams are seeded and split into four pots of nine.

Each team will be drawn against two opponents – one home, one away – from each of the four pots.

This means clubs will face a total of eight different opponents in the league phase, with four home ties and four away.

The top eight in the league progress straight to the last 16, while those finishing ninth to 24th enter a two-legged knockout playoff for a chance to join them.

The bottom 12 teams will be eliminated from the competition, and from the round of 16 onwards it is a straight knockout.

(Image: Alan Harvey - SNS Group)

How is AI changing the Europa League draw?

The draw for the league phase will be conducted by an AI supercomputer due to the complexity and increased number of matches - if done manually, the draw could take up to four hours.

All 36 teams will first be drawn by hand, with the software being used to determine their eight opponents. The software has been programmed to stop teams from the same country being drawn against each other, and clubs can face a maximum of two sides from one nation.

UEFA insists the system is secure and has robust measures in place to protect against potential cyberattacks.

What is the Europa League prize money?

Clubs who qualify for the knockout playoffs will receive €300,000 (£253,300), with around €1.75m (£1.5m) for reaching the last 16.

That sum increases to €2.5m (£2.1m) for the quarter finals and €4.2m (£3.5) for advancing to the semi-finals. Europa League finalists will earn €7m (£5.9m), with an additional €6m (£5m) for the winners.