The race for Europe tightens in England

As the 2024/25 Premier League season nears its conclusion in England, the race for European qualification intensifies. Clubs across the league are fighting not only for domestic pride but also for coveted spots in UEFA’s top competitions—the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.

What makes this moment particularly significant is the possibility that, for the 2025/26 season, a record number of English clubs could earn Champions League places. With up to twelve teams vying for European slots based on league position, the final weeks of the campaign have become a high-stakes showdown, reshaping ambitions and strategies across the table.

The Expanded Champions League Field

For the 2025/26 season, the traditional qualification route of the top four Premier League teams directly entering the UEFA Champions League has been enhanced. This expansion is a direct result of English clubs’ outstanding performances across all UEFA competitions this season, securing the Premier League a guaranteed top-two position in UEFA’s association club coefficient rankings.

This accomplishment earns a valuable “European Performance Spot” (EPS), confirming that the club finishing fifth in the Premier League will also gain direct entry into the Champions League group stage.

As of a recent league table, only the current champions, Liverpool, have mathematically secured a top-five finish. This leaves the race for the remaining qualification places incredibly tight, with merely four points separating the teams ranked from third down to seventh.

Earning the Extra Spot

The allocation of an additional Champions League berth to the Premier League stems directly from the collective strength shown by its clubs in this season’s UEFA tournaments. Their combined results were strong enough to ensure the league attained one of the top two positions in the UEFA association club coefficient rankings. This success meant the Premier League benefited from one of the two extra qualification places available in the new format of the competition.

Contenders for the Top Five

The competition for the remaining Champions League spots is fiercely contested among several clubs below the confirmed top-five finisher, Liverpool.

A recent league standing showed Manchester City in third with 64 points, closely followed by Newcastle and Chelsea both on 63 points. Just behind them were Nottingham Forest with 61 points and Aston Villa with 60 points. This narrow point difference among these sides highlights the intense and unpredictable race in the final matches.

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Pathways to the Europa League

The UEFA Europa League typically features two English clubs qualifying directly from their Premier League performance. Traditionally, the team finishing fifth in the league table secured one of these spots.

However, with the fifth-placed team now qualifying for the Champions League due to the newly awarded EPS, the Europa League place from the league table is now designated for the team finishing sixth. The second primary pathway to the Europa League is reserved for the winner of the FA Cup competition. This season’s FA Cup final is set to be contested by Crystal Palace and Manchester City.

The Conference League Opportunity

Entry into the UEFA Conference League for a Premier League team is secured by winning the EFL Cup. This season, Newcastle United lifted the EFL Cup trophy, guaranteeing them a place in European competition. However, the Conference League spot awarded for winning the EFL Cup is conditional.

If the League Cup winner manages to qualify for a higher-tier European competition, such as the Champions League or Europa League, through another route like their final league position or by winning the FA Cup or a European trophy, their Conference League spot is transferred.

Newcastle, positioned relatively high in the league, are among the teams hoping to secure a higher European place and effectively exchange their Conference League entry.

Cup Success and Qualification Cascades

Qualification for UEFA competitions isn’t solely determined by a club’s final league standing; success in domestic and European cup competitions also provides important pathways. Winning either the UEFA Champions League or the UEFA Europa League grants automatic qualification for the subsequent season’s Champions League, regardless of the team’s finishing position in their domestic league.

Similarly, lifting England’s major domestic cups, the FA Cup or the League Cup, secures entries into the Europa League and Conference League respectively. A significant rule affects these cup-earned spots: if a domestic cup winner simultaneously qualifies for a higher European competition through another means (league position or a European cup win), their spot earned via the domestic cup is not used by them but is transferred down.

This transferred spot is awarded to the next highest-ranked team in the Premier League table that has not yet qualified for any European competition. This cascading effect can significantly extend the reach of European qualification further down the league standings.

Reallocation of FA Cup Spot

Should the team that emerges victorious in the FA Cup final have already secured qualification for either the Champions League or the Europa League through their final position in the Premier League table, they do not utilise the Europa League place awarded for winning the FA Cup. In this scenario, the Europa League spot won through the FA Cup is reallocated to another team. It passes down to the highest-ranked Premier League club that has not otherwise qualified for any level of European competition.

Reallocation of League Cup Spot

A similar redistribution principle applies to the Conference League place earned by winning the EFL Cup. If the winners of the EFL Cup qualify for either the Champions League or the Europa League, whether through their Premier League placing, winning the FA Cup, or winning a European trophy, their Conference League spot becomes available. This spot then cascades down and is awarded to the highest team in the Premier League standings that has not yet secured a place in Europe.

Historic Precedent on the Horizon

The 2025/26 season could see a record-breaking six Premier League teams in the UEFA Champions League. This depends on Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur winning the Europa League, as neither can finish in the top five domestically. A Europa League triumph would grant the winner automatic Champions League qualification, joining the five league-based qualifiers—a feat never before achieved by any European league.

Europe’s Elite Awaits

As the Premier League enters its final weeks, the stakes have never been higher. With an expanded Champions League field, cascading qualification scenarios, and cup finals still to play, clubs across the table remain in contention for continental football. Whether through league performance or cup triumph, the paths to Europe are more varied—and more competitive—than ever. For fans and clubs alike, this season’s finish promises not just drama, but the potential to make history on a European scale.