Newcastle United are back in the Champions League after just a one-season absence, but they will be returning to a revamped competition compared to the 2023/24 campaign.
This will be Newcastle's fifth appearance in the Champions League in total albeit in a different format to the old group stages. The qualification is a rich reward for Eddie Howe and his squad after keeping pace with the Premier League's big boys despite having limited funds to spend.
Here's what there is to look forward to next term in Europe.
### The Magpies take part in 36-team group stage for the first time ever
The new look competition kicked off last season and resulted in Liverpool finishing at the top of the 32-team division. It is UEFA's way of extinguishing talk of a European Super League and it has been expanded to 36 teams for next season.
For Newcastle it will see them make their debut in the new format and unlike the "group of death" in 2023, which pitched United with PSG, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund before bowing out narrowly, this time they will get four home matches and four away days.
They get the chance to either qualify automatically in the top eight or a play-off spot with ninth to 24th getting a second bite of qualifying for the last 16.
### Newcastle guaranteed a lucrative prize pot
The Magpies scooped £13.37m for playing in the old style group stages in 2023/24 plus £4.6million for their win over Paris St-Germain and the two draws against AC Milan and the Ligue 1 club.
But their PSR hopes took a blow after missing out on £8.6million for failing to get to the last 16 with another £10million for the quarter-finals with further rewards going into the latter stages. Getting to the Champions League 32-team division nets £15.7m next season with the prize money going up beyond the eight group games with £1.8m the prize for each win and a draw banking £590,000.
Reaching the last 16 earns a price of £9.4m for each side with Arsenal's run to the semi-finals worth a whopping £38m.
### Seeded United enter the Carabao Cup at the third round stage
The Magpies will get a bye into round three of the competition they won this year for the first time when beating Liverpool in the final at Wembley. After a tough run to the final with a trip to Nottingham Forest in round two, a home tie against Chelsea in the last eight and two legs against Arsenal before conquering the Reds, the Magpies should get an easier draw with the sides competing in Europe from the Premier League unable to meet each other as the draw will be seeded.
### Newcastle's kids will be invited to play in the UEFA Youth League
United's youngsters got the chance to play against top talent from AC Milan, PSG and Borussia Dortmund two years ago. It remains to be seen where the home fixtures would be played but Gateshead's International Stadium was used as the home venue last term with some games also played at Whitley Park.
Both venues offer convenience for staff to take in the afternoon fixtures before a swift return to base at St James' Park for the senior matches. Barcelona won this year's edition by beating Trabzonspor in the final showpiece.
Sean Longstaff during the Newcastle United Press Conference at St. James Park on October 24, 2023
### Media are invited to watch training sessions on the eve of the game
Newcastle must have been confident of a return to Europe this season because the translator booth in the club's media suite, a demand from UEFA, stayed in place this term! UEFA insists on enhanced media access for competing clubs, which includes the chance to watch training of both teams on the eve of matches.
This allowed Tyneside journalists to get footage of stars like Kylian Mbappe last time around although Eddie Howe opted against open training sessions for both the games in Milan and Dortmund. Newcastle did train at PSG's Parc des Princes even if they were shielded at the far end of the stadium.
Media also get access to extra player interviews with clubs required to put up one senior player per game and open up mixed zones after matches.
### UEFA dignitaries must be afforded VIP seating
There could be some very important guests heading to [St James' Park](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/st-james-park) next season with Champions League football back on the menu. And UEFA's top brass will be looked after.
The Champions League rulebook states clearly: "At every UEFA Champions League match, the home club must provide UEFA, free of charge, with a single exclusive hospitality area of a minimum of 400m² of open and usable space within the stadium.
"Following the group stage, the relevant home clubs should provide UEFA, free of charge, with a larger single exclusive hospitality area (ideally, a minimum of 500m²) in order to accommodate the increased number."