Breaking News: UEFA confirm three extra Champions League clubs after Tottenham’s Premier League finish

The Champions League will now have 36 teams instead of the customary 32 teams, and the group stages will no longer exist.

UEFA Champions League trophy pictured ahead of Real Madrid’s victory over Borussia Dortmund (Image: Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

The teams that will be added to the Champions League in the upcoming season have been revealed by UEFA as part of the competition’s revamp.

The opening round of the Champions League competition will no longer have a group stage, according to an announcement made by the European football association. A new “Switzerland League” system will be implemented in its place, where teams will play eight games as opposed to six home and away.

The matches will be determined by drawing two teams from each of the four seeded pots. All 36 teams will be ranked collectively. UEFA declared that four additional clubs will be chosen for qualification using various methods.

The two countries with the greatest rankings on UEFA’s co-efficient leaderboard received two of the additional berths. Although Italy and Germany were given the additional Champions League spot due to their dismal European performances previous season, England was still in the running for this position.

Bologna and Borussia Dortmund will therefore play in the Champions League the following year. After finishing fifth in the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur would have qualified for the competition if England had placed in the first two spots on the table.

The country ranked fifth in UEFA’s coefficient standings, which would typically only have two teams qualified for the Champions League, was awarded an additional slot. This time, France was awarded the additional berth, and Brest capitalised.

The champions’ qualifying road, which will have five teams instead of four next season, will be used to determine who gets the final berth. This club will be selected following four qualifying rounds; the decision has not yet been made.

Spurs’ fifth-place result guarantees them a spot in the Europa League, which will use the new “league phase” format the following season. After winning the FA Cup, Manchester United will join them in the second-tier European competition.