How the Premier League Could Have 11 Teams in European Competition Next Season
The Premier League could see an unprecedented 11 teams qualifying for European competitions next season. Under normal circumstances, England is allocated four Champions League spots, two Europa League places, and one in the Conference League play-off round, totalling seven teams.
However, a specific combination of results could increase this number, allowing even more English clubs to compete in Europe.
Newcastle’s Carabao Cup Triumph and the Impact on European Qualification
Newcastle United’s EFL Cup victory has significant implications for European qualification. England typically secures four automatic places in the Champions League, two for the Europa League, and one in the Conference League play-off stage. However, additional European spots are available through UEFA coefficient rankings and tournament victories, potentially extending England’s representation to 11 teams.
Each season, two leagues receive an extra Champions League spot based on UEFA coefficient rankings. England currently leads this ranking ahead of Spain, Germany, and Italy, largely due to the number of clubs progressing in European competitions this season. As a result, the Premier League’s top five teams would qualify for the Champions League next season instead of the usual four.
Extra European Spots Through Champions League and Europa League Wins
Additional European slots are awarded to the winners of the Champions League and Europa League—provided they do not already qualify via their league position. This season, Arsenal and Aston Villa remain in contention for the Champions League trophy, while Manchester United and Tottenham have reached the Europa League quarter-finals.
The next highest-ranked Premier League team in the table will qualify for the Europa League, along with the FA Cup winners. Meanwhile, Newcastle, having secured a place in the Conference League through their Carabao Cup success, could still qualify for the Champions League or Europa League via their league position—they currently sit sixth with a game in hand.
If Newcastle qualify for the Europa League or Champions League via the league, their allocated Conference League spot would transfer to the highest-ranked Premier League team that has not already secured European football.
Similarly, if the FA Cup winners have already secured European qualification through the league, their allocated Europa League spot would also transfer to the next highest-placed team.
Additionally, the Conference League winners automatically qualify for the following season’s Europa League. With Chelsea still in the tournament, a victory would see them claim a Europa League place, even if they fail to qualify through the league.
The Path to 11 Premier League Teams in European Competition
For 11 Premier League clubs to qualify for European football next season, the following conditions must be met. Some of them are more likely, some not so much.
- England secures a fifth Champions League spot via UEFA coefficient rankings.
- Aston Villa win the Champions League and finish outside the top five (or Arsenal, though their second-place position makes this unlikely).
- Manchester United or Tottenham win the Europa League, securing an additional English place in the Champions League.
- Chelsea win the Conference League but fail to qualify through the Premier League standings.
- Newcastle qualify for the Europa League or Champions League via the league, vacating their Conference League spot.
Potential European Qualification Breakdown
If all of the above scenarios unfold, the Premier League’s European representation for next season could look like this:
- Champions League (7 teams): Liverpool, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, and Newcastle qualify through league standings; Aston Villa enter as Champions League winners; Manchester United or Tottenham qualify as Europa League winners.
- Europa League (3 teams): Brighton secure a place through the league; Fulham qualify as FA Cup winners; Chelsea enter as Conference League winners.
- Conference League (1 team): Bournemouth inherit the Carabao Cup winners’ spot from Newcastle as the highest-ranked Premier League team without European qualification.
Conclusion
The Premier League’s dominance in European football continues to strengthen, with the possibility of 11 teams securing places in continental competitions next season. This scenario depends on specific results across the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League, alongside England’s UEFA coefficient ranking. Should these factors align, the 2025/26 season could see a record number of English clubs competing on the European stage.