Champions League 2025/26 New Format: What It Means for Barcelona and the European Football Business

The Champions League is changing for the 2025/26 season, and these changes are not small. The way the tournament is structured will shift, and that is going to have an effect on clubs like Barcelona. The impact will also reach into the wider business side of football in Europe. It isn’t just about how the matches are played or who plays who. The entire setup will bring fresh challenges and new opportunities for both clubs and the companies that work alongside them.

What the Format Change Looks Like

For years, fans have been used to seeing eight groups of four teams. Each side would play six games at this stage. Now, that system is gone. In its place comes a single league of 36 teams. Every club will play eight games, but not against the same sides twice. Instead, each team faces eight different opponents. At the end of this phase, the top eight go straight into the round of sixteen. The sides in ninth through to twenty-fourth place will go into a playoff to claim the remaining spots.

For Barcelona, this brings more games that matter and more planning that has to go into managing the squad. There’s a lot less room for slip-ups because each fixture could be key. The draw will give them a spread of opponents, and the variation means preparation will need to be sharp.

What It Means for Barcelona on and off the Pitch

More matches can mean more income. FC Barcelona will have more opportunities to generate ticket sales, increase the visibility of sponsors and receive higher income from television rights. However, this also entails greater physical wear and tear, risk of injury and additional pressure on the players.

The club can also take advantage of this new configuration to expand its brand in markets where it does not normally compete. Facing new rivals in different countries can strengthen commercial agreements and attract new sponsors.

Business Partnerships and Data

The increase in matches implies a greater need for accurate data. Clubs, betting operators and television networks will need to follow many more matches and offer real-time statistics. Here, sports data providers play a key role, ensuring that platforms have the necessary information to keep fans informed and engaged.

Opportunities also open up for clubs and operators to expand their collaborations with technology companies, marketing firms and data providers to cope with the new workload involved in the tournament.

Broader Impact on Football’s Business Side

More matches mean more content to broadcast. Broadcasters will have more material to offer, which translates into more space for sponsors and advertisers. The commercial sector of football will try to get the most out of it, launching new campaigns and promotions around these additional matches. At the same time, the digital sectors linked to football will also benefit.

The connection between traditional football and video games continues to grow, and services such as odds feeds for eSports are already being used by operators looking to offer fans new ways to follow the sport. The longer Champions season could accelerate this trend, expanding the ways in which fans get involved.