UEFA uses automation to conduct European Championship draw

The European Football Association (UEFA) has announced that it will automate the process of drawing lots for the group stage of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, which is scheduled to take place on August 29 and 30 in Monaco, instead of drawing it manually as usual.

In each of the three competitions, 36 teams will participate in a “league”, with the aim of occupying the top eight places in the standings to qualify directly for the round of 16, with the remaining eight through tickets for the same round being reserved through the elimination matches.

The 36 teams were divided into four tiers, with each team playing eight matches against eight different teams, facing two different teams from each tier, with one match being at home and the other away.

Only the Conference League competition will not be subject to this rule, since each team will face six teams belonging to the six existing levels, with three matches at home and as many away.

All 36 teams, from those in tier one to tier four (or six in the European Conference League), will have their balls drawn at random from the pot, before the identity of their opponents is revealed in real time.

The computer will be required to meet two standards: No team can play a competitor from the same league (same country), nor can it play more than two teams from the same country. For example, Paris Saint-Germain cannot play Monaco, nor can it play three teams from the English Premier League.

Computer decisions will be instantly verified by two independent systems, and everything will be checked and supervised by an auditing company.

Please note that the schedule of matches for the group stage of each competition will be available on Saturday, August 31.