UEFA considered US-style draft for Champions League draw - where teams would pick their last-16 opponents

In a bid to address long-standing issues of financial disparities and competitive balance within the Champions League, UEFA has been exploring significant alterations to the competition's format. UEFA's plan for the upcoming season involves transitioning to a 36-team open league format, where each club will play eight matches against different opponents. From these fixtures, eight teams will automatically progress to the last 16, while the remaining 16 will enter a playoff round.

Recognizing the logistical challenges of conducting a traditional draw for the opening stage, UEFA has instead opted for a hybrid system, incorporating both digital and manual elements, overseen by reputable firms such as Ernst and Young, according to The Independent. This decision aims to streamline the process, as UEFA modelling indicated that a conventional draw could extend up to four hours and as many as 900 balls.

General Secretary Theodore Theodiridis proposed the idea of seeded teams picking their opponents in a live TV event where the team who had finished at the top of the pack after the group stage would have 15 other sides to pick from. However, the suggestion was quickly struck down by other members of the discussion.

In a bold move, UEFA will reportedly do away with the elimination of the draw altogether for the knockout stage, replacing it with a tennis-style seeding system. This strategic shift is intended to enhance the significance of performance in the initial league phase and incentivize teams to secure higher placements.

While the finer nuances and details are still being ironed out it is believed that the governing body will largely settle with the aforementioned tennis-style seeding route. However, the system can draw criticism from various sections as many might find it skewed towards the bigger clubs.