Champions League 2025/26: major regulatory change

The first edition of the new Champions League was a success. Tons of praise for the new format that generated more enthusiasm and, importantly, more revenue. l’UEFA decided to include a regulatory innovation to make the competition more fair and equitable.

Starting with the season that has just begun (qualifying matches are being played), more importance will be given to whoever ranks best at the end of the regular season. How? By guaranteeing the “field factor” for the duration of the tournament.

To be clear: the right to play the home game will be awarded to the best-ranked team at the end of the regular season. No draw, just look at the final placement in the first phase.

Liverpool, having finished first in the regular season, would, under the new rule, play every single knockout round by playing the return in front of their home crowd. Mind you, should a club with a lower position eliminate a team with a better ranking, here they would inherit their status as the top seed in the next round. A new rule to give even more importance to the regular season and “push” clubs to conquer the best possible position, so as to have the “field factor” in favor in the next knockout stage.