The soccer world was shaken after twelveimportant clubsput the rumors to an end and confirmed the inception of the European Super League from next season onwards. A tournament that will be self-governed by fifteen sides, who were designated as the Founding Clubs, independent from the UEFA and FIFA.
Even though it was an idea that was discussed a lot in the past years, and after gaining strength over the last weeks, the sudden news still took everyone by surprise. The current season hasnât finished yet, the Champions League and many major prizes remain at stake, but these giants have made an official announcement anyways.
In a statement, theyâve confirmed that the new competition will begin this year. Immediately, it unleashed high frictionwith the soccerâs governing bodies, who stood firmly against this initiative. However, these clubs have already planned how their tournament would be played. Letâs break down the format of the European Super League.
How the Super Leagueâs formatwould work
This tournament, if it finally takes place, will involve 20 teams. Those would be the15 founding clubs, twelveof them already officialplus three still unknown, alongside five qualified sides, who will earn a spot based on their performances the previous season.
Florentino PĂ©rez, president of the Super League and Real Madridâs president (Getty).
Starting off in August, 2021, the Super League would be played annually, with the founding clubsalways having a berth for creating the league, while the other five spots would be at stake every season.The matches would be played in the midweek, as the foundersintendto keep on competing in their domestic leagues during the weekends.
These 20 teams would be divided into two groups of ten each. They would play home and away matches, completing a fixture of 18 rounds. The top three fromeach group would advance to the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, the teams who finish infourth and fifth place would clash in a two-legged playoff.
From quarterfinals onwards, playoffs will continue having two legs, until the grand final, which would consist of a single game to beheld at a neutral ground at the end of May. A quite similar type of defining game to the Champions Leagueâs, and even taking placein the same month. But as we have seen before, the format would be completely different. And most importantly, it wouldcompletely change the soccer that we knownowadays.
