Youth League UEFA-2024/2025. Format

Qualification

The tournament will be adapted to the new format of UEFA's main club competitions — 36 youth teams representing clubs from the main Champions League pathway for the 2024/25 season (Champions Pathway). The national champions' path will be reformed so that winners of all UEFA associations' youth championships will participate (currently only 32 top associations take part).

If a club qualifies through both the Champions League pathway and the national champions' path, it will automatically enter the Champions League pathway. The vacated spot in the national champions' path will be filled by the second-placed team from the relevant association.

The winner of the UEFA Youth League automatically qualifies for the national champions' path if they did not qualify through the Champions League pathway.

Initial stages

The league stage will mirror the same stage in the Champions League but be limited to the first six matchdays (three home and three away matches).

The competition in the national champions' path will consist of three rounds with two-legged knockout ties. Clubs from associations with the highest ranking will start the tournament from the second round.

Knockout stage

After completing the mentioned rounds starting from the Round of 16, a knockout phase will be held. The winner of each tie will be determined by one match result. Clubs ranked 1–6 (Champions League pathway) in the Round of 16 will play against clubs ranked 17–22. Clubs ranked 7–16 in the Round of 16 will face teams that qualified through the national champions' path.

Clubs ranked 23 and below in the Champions League pathway, as well as those who lose their two-legged ties in the national champions' path, will leave the tournament. The competition will conclude with a final stage involving four teams (semifinals and final) played at a neutral venue.

The draws for the Round of 8, Quarter-finals, and Semifinals will be made by draw.

Dates of Draws and Matches

Champions League Pathway: league stage

Draw: August 29.

Round 1: September 17–19.

Round 2: October 1/2.

Round 3: October 22/23.

Round 4: November 5/6.

Round 5: November 26/27.

Round 6: December 10/11.

National Champions Pathway

Draw: September 3.

Round 1

First legs: September 18.

Second legs: October 2.

Round 2

First legs: October 23.

Second legs: November 6.

Round 3

First legs: November 27.

Second legs: December 11.

Knockout stage

Draw for Round of 16: December 20.

It is worth noting that in the current edition of the UEFA Youth League, Ukraine was represented by two clubs. Donetsk's "Shakhtar" failed to advance from their group stage in the Champions Pathway, while Lviv's "Rukh" halted in the second round of the national champions' path.