How AI Champions League draw will work with supercomputer set to decide expanded competition - explained

Per Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol, the AI software has been designed by UK-based IT firm AE Live and the draw will be audited by Ernst & Young. A new format for the Champions League will be in place for the upcoming season which will see an expanded 36-team competition being played in a league structure instead of the traditional group stages. However, unlike a normal league, where every team plays each other at home and away, teams in the Champions League 'league phase' will play just eight different teams, with four games at home and four games away.

A total of 36 teams will be divided into eight pots depending on their seeds after which the clubs will be first drawn manually from each pot before the supercomputer takes over and selects their eight league fixtures. The computer has been programmed to factor in country protection which will prevent teams from drawing opponent from their same league. One club will face a maximum of two opponents from their own country. UEFA remains confident that the new software is safe from threats of cyberattack.

Had the draw been conducted manually for the expanded competition, it would have taken four hours, 1000 balls and 36 glass bowls to complete the process. However, with the use of AI, the draw will now only take 35 minutes.

The much-awaited 2024-25 Champions League draw will take place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on Thursday, August 29, 2024.