The race for European spots in the Premier League is heating up, and while Liverpool’s failure to qualify for the Champions League this season may have dashed the hopes of 11 English clubs making it to Europe, there is still a chance for 10 Premier League teams to qualify for European competition next season. With England still having four teams in contention and a guaranteed spot in the Europa League final, the final places are yet to be decided.
The European Places and How They Work
Qualification for European football has become increasingly complex due to UEFA’s new European Performance Spots (EPS). These spots are awarded to the top two leagues based on their overall performance in European competitions, and this has given the Premier League an additional berth for the 2026-27 season.
With the EPS secured, England is guaranteed at least eight teams in Europe next season. However, the situation can still change depending on who wins European trophies and their respective league positions. The most significant factor will be whether an English club wins the Europa League or the Conference League, which could impact the allocation of spots.
As it stands, the breakdown is as follows:
Fifth place in the Premier League will go into the Champions League
Sixth place will secure a spot in the Europa League
Seventh place will earn a place in the Conference League
What Happens If an English Team Wins a European Trophy?
An important scenario to consider is if Aston Villa or Nottingham Forest were to win the Europa League, or if Crystal Palace triumphed in the Conference League. If this happens, it could lead to a shift in the number of teams qualifying for Europe from England.
Europa League Winners (Villa or Forest): If Villa or Forest win the Europa League, the winner’s place in the Champions League would go to the team with the best UEFA coefficient not already in the top four. This could be a club like Club Brugge. If Villa finishes outside the top four, there will still be six English teams in the Champions League, and the overall number of European spots for England could rise to six.
Conference League Winners (Palace): If Crystal Palace wins the Conference League, they would qualify for the Europa League. This would open up the possibility for more English teams to compete in Europe, especially if they finish outside of the top six in the league. In this case, the number of teams could rise to nine, and if both Forest and Palace win European trophies, the Premier League could see a record 10 teams in Europe.
The Role of the FA Cup
The outcome of the FA Cup also plays a key role in the final allocation of European spots. If Manchester City wins the FA Cup, the European places would drop one spot, pushing teams down and possibly affecting the qualification of clubs finishing in the lower positions.
If Chelsea wins the FA Cup, they would need to finish in the top seven for the Conference League place to be transferred to eighth.
If Southampton or Leeds wins the trophy, there would be no impact on the other teams' European spots.
The Maximum Number of English Teams in Europe
The maximum number of Premier League clubs in European competitions next season could be 10, a rare and unlikely scenario. This would require English teams to win all three European competitions and finish outside the top spots in the league. The breakdown for the maximum 10 teams would be:
The top four in the Champions League
Two teams in the Europa League
One team in the Conference League
Forest or Villa as Europa League winners or Villa finishing outside the top six
Palace as Conference League winners if finishing outside the top six
The EPS spot
With so many possibilities still on the table, the fight for Europe is far from over, and it promises to be an exciting conclusion to the Premier League season.
