Why Are There Champions League Games on Thursday?
Why Are There Champions League Games on Thursday? Ever since the Champions League began, midweek nights of European football have meant two things: Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday nights were the domain of the Europa League and Conference League — until recently. Now, for the first time in the “new era” of the competition, some UCL matches are being scheduled on Thursday.
So what’s changed? Why is UEFA mixing up the tradition, and what does this mean for clubs, fans, broadcasters, and the calendar? Here’s a deep dive into the reasons, the implications, and what to expect going forward.
What’s Different: The New Champions League Format
Starting in the 2024/25 season, UEFA introduced its revamped Champions League format. Instead of the old six-group system, there’s now a “league phase” (also known as the “Swiss model”) featuring 36 teams. Each club plays eight matches (against eight different opponents: 4 home, 4 away) rather than the old group system.
One consequence of this format is that there are added logistics: more matchdays to schedule, more teams, and more overlap with domestic leagues and other UEFA competitions. To accommodate all this, UEFA has introduced a concept of exclusive matchweeks for each competition (Champions League, Europa League, Conference League) — in some of these weeks, matches will be spread across Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
The “Exclusive Week” & Why Thursday
The idea of an exclusive week means that for one given matchweek at the start of the Champions League phase, only Champions League matches are played across three days, including Thursday. This was done so the UCL gets full exposure and doesn’t overlap with Europa or Conference League fixtures, allowing fans and media to focus exclusively on the UCL.
For example, in the opening matchweek of the 2024/25 season, Matchday 1 fixtures were played between Tuesday, 17 September and Thursday, 19 September. That was a marked shift — Thursday matches in the Champions League were rare or non-existent before in prior seasons.
Some Recent Examples of Thursday UCL Matches
To illustrate how this change looks in practice, here are a few cases:
Matchday 1, UCL 2024/25 had several fixtures on Thursday, 19 September — completing the matchweek across three days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
For the 2025/26 season, the calendar continues this pattern: an “exclusive week” in the league phase, where some fixtures fall on Thursday. Matchday 1 of 2025/26 is scheduled for 16-18 September, giving three days of UCL action, including Thursday.
Recent high-profile fixtures have included Manchester City vs Napoli and Newcastle United vs Barcelona on Thursday nights in early Champions League fixtures, a direct outcome of this scheduling model.
Why UEFA Did It: The Key Reasons
Here are the main factors pushing this scheduling change:
(a) Increased number of matchdays & teams
With 36 teams and more matchups per club in the league phase, there’s simply more football to schedule midweek. UEFA needed extra flexibility so as not to overload Tuesday-Wednesday slots. UEFA.com+1
(b) Reducing overlap with other UEFA competitions
If Champions League matches take up more Wednesday slots, they can conflict with Europa League or Conference League fixtures or clash in stadium logistics and broadcast scheduling. Having exclusive weeks where only one competition runs helps reduce this overlap.
(c) Commercial & broadcast incentives
More nights with top-tier matches means more content for broadcasters, better spread across time zones, and the ability to maximize viewership and advertising revenue. A Thursday UCL match gives broadcasters another marquee night of high-profile content.
(d) Fan engagement and exposure
By extending matches across more nights, UEFA might hope to draw more attention to the Champions League, particularly in fixture weeks when many fans are used to just the Europa or Conference games on Thursdays. It also gives more flexibility for fans globally in viewing matches across different time zones.
What This Means for Clubs, Players & Fans
While this change has good reasons, it’s not without challenges and impacts. Here are several to consider:
Fixture congestion & rest: Clubs may have less recovery time between matches, which could affect performance in weekend domestic fixtures.
Travel and logistics: When games are staggered across more days, scheduling for travel, training, and rest becomes more complex, especially in weeks with Thursday matches.
Broadcasting scheduling: For fans, this might mean changes in usual matchday routines. TV rights holders may shift kick-off times, which can be inconvenient for some viewers.
Atmosphere and attendance: Thursday evening games often have lower attendance or diffused fan energy compared to the traditional Tuesday/Wednesday UCL nightlife.
Counterarguments & Criticisms
No change is universally liked. Some of the concerns raised include:
“Thursday is not Champions League night”: Many fans feel the mystique of UCL belongs to Tuesday/Wednesday; Thursday games dilute that tradition.
Competitive fairness: If some teams get Thursday matches and others don’t, differences in rest days could matter.
Wear and tear: Player welfare concerns, especially for clubs juggling many competitions (league, cup, European).
Overlap with domestic competitions: Some leagues already have midweek cup fixtures; Thursday UCL games can intensify midweek overload.
UEFA’s Official Position / Rules
According to UEFA regulations for the post-2024 format:
There will be one “exclusive week” in the league phase of the Champions League when matches are scheduled over three consecutive days — Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Other matchweeks will revert to the traditional Tuesday & Wednesday scheduling except for some anomalies (e.g., Matchday 8 in 2025/26 which is one day only).
What to Expect Going Forward
Here’s how things are likely to play out in upcoming seasons:
Champions League will likely retain exclusive weeks with Thursday fixtures early in the season.
Traditional matchdays (Tue/Wed) remain dominant for most matchweeks.
UEFA might adjust kickoff times or stagger matches more to manage rest and broadcasting overlaps.
Clubs will have to be more strategic with squad rotation given midweek spread.
Fans may need to adapt viewing habits, especially in markets where Thursday matches are less traditional.
Conclusion
Thursday Champions League matches aren’t a one-off quirk — they’re part of a broader, intentional shift in how UEFA is organizing European club competition in the post-2024 era. The goal is to accommodate more teams, protect competition spacing, manage broadcast demands, and maintain excitement across the season.
Though some traditions may feel shaken, this added flexibility might also allow more dramatic narratives, more marquee matches across different days, and potentially a more accessible schedule for fans around the world.
If you’re a fan, don’t be surprised if next season you catch UCL action on a Thursday more than once — it’s the new normal, at least for certain matchweeks.