group stage berths for the Europa League winners without additional entries required followed with the group stage qualification format reforms (the top 4 clubs from the top 4 national associations automatically began to get into the group stage) Since 2021: UEFA abolished the away goal rules in all of the club competitions for the two-legged knockout stages and if a match ends in a draw on aggregate after both legs, they will have to go through with extra time after the end of the 90-minute regulation and a penalty shoot-out if the aggregate remains unchanged after extra time to determine the winner of the tie. Prior to 1970, aggregate draws were settled by a play-off and (if necessary) coin-toss. Thereafter, it was via the away goals rule and (if necessary) a penalty shoot-out. The final retained the potential for a replay until the late 1970s. Scheduled for 2024: Partly in response to the attempt at the European Super League, UEFA decided on an extended format beginning with the 2024–25 season. The group stage is planned to evolve into a league stage in which the number of teams increases from 32 to 36. Every club will play a minimum of 8 league stage games against 8 different opponents (four home games, four away) instead of the current six matches against three teams, played on a home and away basis. The teams finishing in 1st through 8th places will qualify automatically for the knockout stage, while the teams finishing in 9th to 24th places will compete in a two-legged play-off to secure their path to the last 16 of the competition. List of participating nations by first entry Including qualification rounds Group stage only Since the addition of a group phase to the European Cup in the 1991–92 season, the earlier stages of the competition have been classified as qualifying rounds and from the 1994–95 season, all rounds prior to the group stage have been considered qualification rounds. The following nations have had representation at the group stage of the competition: Further reading See also List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finals References External links History History of association football