Big changes coming to Women's Champions League as UEFA announce new format including 18-team league as well as new second tier competition

The UEFA Executive Committee met in Hamburg on Saturday to approve a new format for the UEFA Women's Champions League and the creation of a second European competition for women's clubs. The committee ruled that these changes will come into effect for the 2025-26 season. The revamped Champions League will consist of an 18-team league phase with three home and away matches followed by knock-out rounds.

These changes will bring the women's game in line with the men's Champions League, which will use this 'Swiss model' format from next season - where there is one big group rather than multiple groups of four teams. The creation of a first-ever second European competition is another step in the development of women's football.

The men's game has had a second tier European competition since 1971, in what was called the UEFA Cup and since 2009 has been called the Europa League.

UEFA say full details on the aforementioned competitions' formats, access list and calendar will be announced on Monday, December 4.