Key Takeaways:
- The Champions League will change its opening format from the 2027/28 season, debuting a stand-alone fixture for the reigning champion
- This American-inspired approach will see the previous season’s winner host the new campaign’s curtain-raiser on a Tuesday
- The new television contract commencing that season is projected to deliver over 5 billion euros in club revenues across three years
UEFA Introduces Central Opening Match from 2027
UEFA, long resistant to sweeping reforms in the Champions League’s format, will implement notable modifications from the 2027–28 season in conjunction with the competition’s upcoming television rights agreement. These adjustments, though not as drastic as earlier proposals, represent a significant evolution influenced by established practices in American sports.
According to information released by The Athletic ahead of UEFA’s official announcement, the Champions League’s new structure will abandon the tradition of commencing the main phase with eight simultaneous matches. Instead, a single, high-profile “central” match will be staged on the opening Tuesday, preceding the rest of the matchday fixtures.
‼️Champions League will launch with a standalone fixture, and may feature an 'opening ceremony' – as part of plans to boost revenue.
From 2027-28, the competition will start with the defending champions taking on an opponent at home in the only match on that night.
~ @MailSport pic.twitter.com/ITM0ykd7wN
— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) October 13, 2025
Reigning Champions to Host Stand-Alone Opener
The inaugural match of each season’s main phase will feature the prior season’s Champions League winners, who will also enjoy home advantage on the night. This innovation closely mirrors systems in major American leagues — for example, the NFL, which consistently opens its season with the reigning champions in action on the Thursday before the first full weekend of fixtures.
The National Hockey League has adopted a similar custom, as illustrated most recently when the Florida Panthers began the new regular season with the initial fixture. Likewise, Oklahoma will launch the NBA season as holders of the championship.
Traditions in Europe and Beyond
While this approach is a hallmark of American sports, it is not entirely foreign to European football. This season, the English Premier League kicked off with a Friday match involving Liverpool, the previous season’s titleholders. In Germany’s Bundesliga, the convention has seen the champion play in the opening Friday match for several years, though not always as hosts.
| Competition | Opening Match Tradition | Host |
|---|---|---|
| Champions League (from 2027–28) | Reigning champion plays stand-alone opener | Yes |
| NFL | Season opens with reigning champion on Thursday | Yes |
| NHL | Champion featured in opening game(s) | Yes |
| Premier League | Occasionally features reigning champion in first match | Not always |
| Bundesliga | Champion plays first Friday match | Not always |
Financial Impact
The forthcoming television contract is expected to generate club revenues exceeding 5 billion euros across three seasons, underscoring the commercial significance of these format refinements.
