The Champions League will undergo significant changes

14/10/2025 11:00:00 esportapi

The Champions League will experience major changes in the 2027/28 season with many noteworthy elements.

According to Mail Sport, from the 2027/28 season, the Champions League will commence with a standalone match – possibly accompanied by a spectacular opening ceremony – as part of a strategy to increase revenue for the competition.

Starting from the 2027/28 season, Europe’s most prestigious tournament will open with a single match on the opening night, where the reigning champions will host a chosen opponent at home.

Sources from Mail Sportreport that this opening match will feature an official ceremony, included in a new commercial strategy planned by Relevent, a US sports marketing firm.

Beginning in 2027/28, the Champions League will launch with a standalone match

Last week, the newspaper reported that the four-year broadcast rights package (starting in 2027) will include a “first exclusive option” for streaming platforms, allowing them to select the most exciting match of each round.

Now that the official bidding process has started, Relevent has confirmed this information as accurate.

Following the opening match on Tuesday night, the remaining fixtures will be held over the next two days: Wednesday and Thursday.

Separating the first match is seen as a strategy to enhance commercial value and turn the opening night into a global entertainment event, possibly featuring top international music stars.

Currently, the Champions League does not have an official “opening” match but begins with several games played simultaneously in the first round.

Relevent, based in New York, is managing the bidding process for the joint venture between UEFA and clubs, named UC3.

They are also seeking broadcasting contracts in the five largest European markets: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The submission deadline is November 18, with the goal of announcing agreements before Christmas.

UEFA aims to increase revenue to approximately £4.3 billion annually from broadcasting and commercial rights—higher than the current £3.84 billion.

In February this year, Relevent was appointed as the global distribution and marketing partner for UC3, ending a 30-year relationship between UEFA and TEAM Marketing, the Swiss company that significantly contributed to making the Champions League a global brand.

Major companies like Amazon, Netflix, YouTube, and Disney are reportedly considering bidding for the first exclusive option package. Currently, TNT Sports holds the primary rights in the UK, although Amazon also broadcasts selected matches.

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