The Champions League is a competition for club soccer teams that is operated by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), one of the six regional member confederations that make up soccer’s global governing body, Federation Internationale de Football Association. The tournament is the premier club competition in Europe and one of the most prestigious and valuable sporting events in the world.
The UEFA Champions League began in 1992, after the Maastricht Treaty and Single European Act of the same year, as part of the increasing forces of European integration through sports and commercialisation. It grew to become the biggest tournament in Europe and saw Real Madrid dominate its early years, winning the first five titles.
In 2024-25, UEFA changed the format of the tournament to abandon the group stage in favour of an expanded league phase with 36 teams competing across four seeding pots. Teams will play each other twice, once at home and once away. The new system also removes country protection in the knockout round playoffs and semi-finals.
Clubs must be licensed by their national association to participate in the Champions League. The license is based on a series of sporting criteria, including stadium and infrastructure requirements. A club may not compete in the Champions League unless it is the reigning champion of its domestic league. In addition, the champions of associations with a UEFA coefficient below 50 are awarded a standard berth in the qualifying rounds.