Champions League Qualification: How the Premier League Could Gain More Spots | OneFootball

Premier League’s Path to Seven Champions League Spots

The Premier League is poised for an unprecedented moment in European football. Based on performances in UEFA competitions, England is leading the coefficient rankings, meaning a fifth Champions League place is within reach for next season. But in a scenario where results align favourably, as many as seven Premier League teams could find themselves in Europe’s elite competition.

Coefficient Rankings and Champions League Qualification

European football is dictated by UEFA’s coefficient rankings, a system that measures a nation’s performance across the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. Points are allocated for wins and draws, then divided among the number of competing clubs.

For the 2025-26 season, the top two leagues in these rankings receive an extra Champions League spot. With English clubs progressing well across Europe, the Premier League is currently leading the table, ahead of Spain and Italy. As a result, the team finishing fifth in England’s top flight is likely to secure a Champions League place.

In previous seasons, Bologna and Borussia Dortmund benefited from this system, gaining entry to the Champions League despite finishing outside the traditional qualification spots in their leagues.

The Clubs in Contention for an Extra Spot

With the Premier League leading the coefficient table, the battle for fifth place has taken on new significance. As it stands, Manchester City occupy that spot, having slipped outside the top four following a defeat to Nottingham Forest. Chelsea capitalised, moving into the final automatic Champions League spot.

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The race, however, remains wide open. A gap of just seven points separates fourth-placed Chelsea from 10th-placed Fulham, meaning teams such as Newcastle, West Ham, and Brighton are all in the mix.

Beyond the coefficient-driven spot, other scenarios could see more Premier League clubs qualifying for the Champions League.

Champions League and Europa League Winners’ Impact

A direct path to the Champions League is also available through European triumphs. UEFA’s regulations grant automatic entry to the winners of both the Champions League and Europa League.

This rule could play a significant role. If Aston Villa or Arsenal were to win the Champions League while finishing outside the Premier League’s top five, England would gain a sixth Champions League participant. Similarly, if Manchester United or Tottenham—both currently struggling in the league—were to lift the Europa League trophy, a seventh English club would enter the competition.

Historically, this system has had significant implications. In 2012, Chelsea’s Champions League victory denied Tottenham a place in the competition, forcing UEFA to adjust its rules. Now, winning Europe’s second-tier tournament guarantees a Champions League spot, regardless of league position.

Could Seven Premier League Clubs Make It?

The equation is relatively straightforward. With an extra spot virtually secured, five English teams are set to qualify. If an English side outside the top five wins the Champions League, that number rises to six. If a Premier League team also claims the Europa League while finishing outside the top five, the total reaches seven.

With Arsenal and Aston Villa still in the Champions League, and Manchester United and Tottenham fighting in the Europa League, this scenario remains a genuine possibility. Should it materialise, the Premier League would break new ground in European football, with seven representatives competing in the continent’s elite club tournament.