UEFA is preparing to implement a major change to the structure of its top-tier tournaments — including the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League. According to ESPN, starting from next season, the second leg of the knockout ties will be played at the home ground of the team that finished higher in the league-style "overall round" of the competition.

This move represents a departure from the traditional draw-based system used to decide the order of home and away legs. The idea is to reward consistent performance earlier in the tournament by granting the perceived strategic advantage of hosting the second leg.

For example, in the current Champions League campaign, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) hosted Arsenal in the second leg of their semi-final clash. However, under the new format, the return leg would have been played in London, as the Gunners finished 3rd in the overall standings, while PSG only managed 15th. Similarly, Barcelona would have hosted Inter Milan in their tie, having finished 2nd, compared to Inter's 4th-place finish.

It’s a move that could shift tactical approaches across all three competitions and adds an extra layer of importance to group-stage performance — or what UEFA is now branding as the “league phase.”

Key Takeaway

From the 2025/26 season, higher-ranked teams in UEFA’s league phase will be rewarded with second-leg home advantage in the knockout rounds. A small tweak — but one that could have big tactical and psychological implications in Europe’s biggest nights.