European Super League returns with new name and format

New format has already been proposed to UEFA and FIFA

A22 Sports Management, promoter of the European Super League, has announced that it has submitted a proposal to UEFA and FIFA for official recognition of the competition, which comes with some differences compared to the past.

To begin with, the competition will not be called the ‘European Super League’, but rather the ‘Unify League’. In addition, another of the main novelties of the new competition will be the fact that there will be four leagues and a final phase, which will be played in the form of a final-four in a single country.

The Stars League, the top tier of the competition, will consist of 16 teams, divided into two groups of eight. There will be 14 home and away matches, with the top four teams from each group qualifying for the quarter-finals. This stage would be played over two legs, with the qualified teams meeting in the same country for the semi-finals and the final, in a single match on neutral ground. The system would be the same in each of the four divisions.

The qualification system will depend on clubs’ performance in their respective domestic leagues each season, meaning the proposal is now fully in line with UEFA’s definition of the ‘European Sport Model’.

Finally, at the heart of this vision is the Unify platform, a consumer-facing streaming service announced in December 2023 that will broadcast all games live. Unify will offer two ways to watch the games: free with advertising or by accessing one of the premium packages.

Bernd Reichart, CEO of A22, said on social media that the new competition will bring innovation to football: “The time has come for all stakeholders in the world of football, including UEFA and FIFA, to come up with a true innovation that puts affordable fan experience, player well-being and competitive matches first.”