UEFA could scrap two-legged Champions League semi-finals in favour of a new final four tournament that would be played in a single host city.
Semi-final ties have been played over two legs since the inaugural European Cup season in 1955/56. But a window into a potentially different future came in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic forced UEFA to take a different approach and host a final mini-tournament in Lisbon.
On that occasion, the eight quarter-finalists all headed to the Portuguese capital, with all remaining fixtures played in quick succession over the course of 11 days after domestic seasons finished.
It wouldn’t be as many as eight teams involved in the new proposed format, but the final four clubs each season could play two semi-finals and the final in one location.
It has been dubbed the ‘Champions League week of football’ and The Times has reported that while no formal decision has been made, the European Club Association (ECA) is prepared to support it.
Inspiration is also drawn from the UEFA Nations League finals.
UEFA is already launching a new Champions League format from the 2024/25 season, which will see the current group stage replaced by a single 36-team league, with each club playing 10 times.
Should there be a change to the semi-final format, they too would not be until 2024.
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