Which teams have qualified for UEFA Champions League Round of 16? Clubs in 2024/25 knockout phase or playoffs

The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League boasts a complete reorganization of the way clubs qualify for the knockout stage.

With the old group stage scrapped, teams in Europe are now battling all 31 other clubs in the hunt for a knockout spot, instead of just against the three in their little pod.

All clubs are clumped into one large table, and each must play eight matches to decide their fate. The top eight qualify directly to the Round of 16, while the next 16 sides in the standings will be drawn into a nervy playoff round, and the bottom eight sides are eliminated from Europe outright.

The Sporting News brings you a full look at the  qualification picture with the clubs that have secured mathematical qualification either to the Round of 16 or playoff stage, plus the ones who have been eliminated from contention.

MORE: Full Champions League table and standings

Which teams have qualified for UEFA Champions League Round of 16?

The top eight teams in the league-phase table will qualify directly to the Round of 16, bypassing the playoff round completely.

It’s an extremely coveted position as the teams not only will avoid the peril of a playoff matchup, but will also be seeded in the Round of 16 draw so they will be partnered with an opponent that finished lower in the table.

With a home win over French side Lille in late January, Liverpool became the first club to confirm a place in the Round of 16, mathematically cemented into one of the eight byes. Barcelona nearly saw their chance to do the same slip away as they were held by Benfica in a chaotic match, but a 96th minute winner from Raphinha gave them passage as well.

MORE: Updated Champions League top goal scorers 2024/25 | All UCL qualification scenarios and permutations

Teams qualified for Champions League Round of 16

MORE: All the teams eliminated from this season’s UEFA Champions League

Teams qualified for Champions League knockout playoffs

Below the top eight Round of 16 byes, the next 16 clubs will qualify to the knockout-round playoffs, with clubs sorted into the lowest position for which they’ve mathematically confirmed qualification.

Positions 9-16 will be seeded in the playoff-round draw and will have the preferred second-leg home match, while positions 17-24 will be unseeded in the draw.

MORE: Full Champions League table and standings

With two matches still to be played and the standings still crowded, it’s unclear how the middle of the table will play out. Behind the two leaders Liverpool and Barcelona, eight clubs confirmed a knockout stage place with Matchweek 7 results. They were joined by Arsenal, who managed to find themselves into the knockout round without having even played thanks to outside results.

At this point, none of the teams behind Liverpool and Barcelona have secured a seeded playoff spot, as all nine clubs have only guaranteed themselves a top-24 position and no more.

Teams qualified for Champions League knockout playoffs

* Could still qualify for Round of 16 bye or playoff seeded position