Women's Champions League Draw Announced Amid Criticism Over Qualification Format

Critics argue current Women's Champions League format excludes some of Europe's top talent, suggesting an expansion to the group stage and potential secondary competition.

Critics argue that the current Women's Champions League qualification format leads to many of the top talents in Europe being excluded from the group stage, including the absence of several influential, international players.
High-quality fixtures often occur in the qualifying rounds, depriving spectators and sponsors of star-studded matchups at a later stage of the competition.
Over two-thirds of the players who started the 2022 European Championship final between England and Germany play for clubs not qualified for this year's Champions League group stage.
The current qualification format favors domestic champions from lesser-funded leagues, prompting calls for an expansion of the Women's Champions League to include a wider pool of teams.
No changes are anticipated until the 2025-26 season, when UEFA is reported to be considering an expansion of the group stage and potentially introducing a secondary competition.