Champions League could expand to 36 teams as new format nears approval

European Club Association president Andrea Agnelli revealed Monday that a new Champions League format could be finalized in the coming weeks.

The proposed changes, which would be implemented in 2024, include increasing the tournament from 32 to 36 teams and overhauling the group stage format to a single-table setup.

"There are details that need to be addressed, one being the access to the competitions," Agnelli said, according to Agence France-Presse.

"If we have four extra spots, how will these be allocated? But, I would say within a couple of weeks, everything should be pretty much sorted.

"It's very, very close to an ideal Champions League."

UEFA's new tournament group phase would involve the "Swiss system," where 36 clubs would play 10 matches against 10 different opponents before entering the knockout stage.

The top eight teams would automatically advance to the next round while the next 16 clubs would compete in a playoff for the last eight places.

"The beauty of the system has now been recognized by all," said Agnelli, who also serves as Juventus' president, according to Graham Dunbar of The Associated Press.

At least one of the four proposed extra spots could go to France to bring it on par with other major European football countries such as England, Italy, Spain, and Germany, according to AFP. Clubs could also be picked based on past results in European competitions, per Dunbar.

The UEFA executive committee could approve the reforms ahead of a meeting of European football's 55 national federations April 20.