Report: UEFA considering preseason tournament with top UCL teams

Four of the Champions League’s top-performing clubs could headline a new annual preseason tournament in the United States, sources told Rob Harris of The Associated Press.

The mini-tournament would reportedly run as an appetizer to the Champions League each season and feature the four teams that finish atop the competition’s new 36-team standings.

Starting in 2024, the Champions League will take on a new format, with 36 teams competing in a single league rather than groups of four. Teams will play eight games home and away to determine their standing in the table. The top eight sides qualify directly for the round of 16, while the teams from ninth to 24th compete in two-legged playoffs for a berth in the knockout stage.

The preseason tournament could replace the International Champions Cup, which serves as a top destination for clubs on tour during the offseason. Relevant Sports, which runs the ICC, has an existing partnership with UEFA to sell Champions League broadcasting rights from 2024 to 2027.

UEFA is also discussing changes to the Super Cup, which pits the reigning Champions League and Europa League champions against each other in a one-off match every August. If UEFA proceeds with the preseason event, the Europa League and Europa Conference League winners could play in the Super Cup instead.