The European Football Association (UEFA) has announced the Champions League format for the new season in its 68th edition.

The tournament starts on June 21, 2022 and continues until June 10, 2023 in the exceptional version, and different dates, especially in the group stage, due to the winter World Cup.

From October 21 to December 18, Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup, which will be the first ever World Cup held in the winter season.

The preliminary round starts with the semi-final on June 21st, followed by the final on the 24th of the same month.

The first qualifying round will be played on 5/6 July in the first leg and 12/13 July in the second leg, while the second will be played on 19/20 and 26/27 July of the same month.

And the third qualifying round, in which the winner advances to the playoffs, will be played on August 3/2 and 9.

Finally, the Champions League group stage qualifiers will be played in August as usual, days 16/17 back and 23/24 back.

The draw for the group stage will then take place on 25 August, where eight groups will be determined.

Group stage matches:

First round: 6/7 September 2022

Second round: 13/14 September 2022

Third round: October 4/5, 2022

Fourth round: October 11/12, 2022

Fifth round: October 25/26, 2022

Round 6: November 1, 2022

This will be followed by the play-off draw on 7 November, after the group stage has ended.

Tournament playoff dates:

Round of 16: First legs 14/15/21/22 February 2023 and second legs 7/8/14/15 March 2023

Quarter-finals (Quarter-finals): April 11/12, 2023, first legs, and 18/19, the same month ago.

Semi-final matches: 9/10 and 16/17 May 2023, home and away respectively.

Final: June 10, 2023

The final match is supposed to be held at the Istanbul Stadium in the Turkish capital, which was supposed to host the 2020 final, but was moved to Lisbon due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Johnny Khoury