The Women's Champions League will feature a group stage for the last 16 from the 2021-22 season onwards, after Uefa confirmed changes to the format, reports BBC Sport.

The changes mean that three English teams will qualify - an increase on two existing places.

The top six countries by ranking will all receive three qualification spots.

Since 2009, the competition has used groups in the qualifying rounds but from the last 32 onwards, has used a two-leg, knockout format.

The new format will see four groups of four in the last-16 stage, with teams playing each other home and away before the top two sides in each group qualify for the quarter-finals.

Some clubs will have to progress through two rounds to reach that group stage, depending on where they finish domestically, but the champions from the top three rated divisions in Europe - including the WSL - would progress straight to the last 16.

To ensure clubs from a minimum of 10 countries reach the last-16 groups, there will be mini tournaments and then a knockout round for qualifiers before that stage.