Is the Super League making a comeback?

A new report details that UEFA has received a final proposal from the company behind the Super League.

The concept of the Super League was first introduced in 2021 and nearly approved, but it quickly collapsed after numerous clubs withdrew amid strong backlash from fans.

At that time, UEFA firmly opposed the Super League, but by 2023, both UEFA and FIFA suffered a major defeat when the European Court of Justice ruled they had violated competition laws. Nevertheless, the project has not completely disappeared, with Barcelona and Real Madrid still regarded as key players behind it.

According to Mundo Deportivo, secret negotiations have been ongoing for the past eight months between UEFA, representatives of Barca and Real, and the company A22 Sports Management. The focus is on reforming the Champions League format, which has now shifted to a 36-team group stage, rather than creating a completely separate competition.

From these discussions, the Super League has submitted a new proposal to UEFA. Specifically, it keeps 36 teams but divides them into two tiers, each with 18 teams based on UEFA coefficients. The top 18 teams will play eight matches against strong opponents, while the other group will have a more balanced schedule.

In the knockout stage, the top eight teams will advance directly to the round of 16, while the remaining 16 spots will be allocated from 32 teams in both groups, based on results and rankings.

The Champions League format remains unchanged, but a major difference lies in the broadcasting rights. All matches will be streamed for free on a new online platform called UNIFY, accompanied by region-specific advertisements. Viewers can also opt for a premium paid package to remove ads.

UEFA is now reportedly more open to this plan after tensions between parties have eased, and the next step will be detailed talks at the Nyon headquarters. If approved, the new format will officially take effect in 2027, when the current broadcasting contract expires.

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