Premier League Europe spots are a hot topic right now, especially with so many English clubs performing well in European competitions. From thrilling Champions League matchups to dramatic Europa League victories, the race for European qualification is heating up.
Premier League Europe spots: Five Champions League Places
The Premier League has already secured five Champions League spots for next season thanks to UEFA’s European Performance Spot (EPS) rule. This was awarded to the top-performing leagues across Europe for the 2024-25 season.
That means even the fifth-placed team will be heading to the Champions League. And with the way the top of the table is shaping up, that fifth-place fight is more intense than ever.
Premier League Europe spots: More Than Five?
Premier League Europe spots might not stop at five. If either Manchester United or Tottenham wins the Europa League — and both are in the semi-finals — they’ll secure a sixth Champions League place for England, regardless of their league position.
That sets up the real possibility of an all-English Europa League final with a Champions League spot at stake.
Seven Clubs in the Champions League?
Here’s where things get interesting. Let’s say Arsenal finishes outside the top five but wins the Champions League. Their win would not affect the league’s EPS-based fifth spot. Instead, the sixth-placed Premier League team would get the EPS slot.
Add that to a Europa League-winning club like United or Spurs, and you’re looking at seven Premier League teams in the 2025-26 Champions League.
What About the Europa League and Conference League?
Outside the Champions League, Premier League Europe spots include:
- Two Europa League spots (usually given to the FA Cup winner and the highest-ranked team not already qualified for the Champions League)
- One UEFA Conference League spot (normally awarded to the Carabao Cup winner)
However, this could change based on who wins the domestic cups and where they finish in the league.
Premier League Europe spots: Knock-On Effects from Cup Winners
This year, Newcastle United won the Carabao Cup but are also strong contenders for a top-five finish. That means the Conference League spot would be passed to another Premier League finisher.
In the FA Cup, three semi-finalists — Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest — could all qualify for the Champions League via league position. If that happens, the FA Cup’s Europa League spot also gets passed down.
Only Crystal Palace, the fourth semi-finalist, would secure Europa League football if they win the FA Cup outright.
Conference League Spot Could Disappear
Here’s the twist: if the winners of European trophies also qualify for Europe via the league, England could actually lose its Conference League spot. UEFA rules prioritize not doubling up, so spots can be reallocated or even dropped.
For example, if Chelsea win the Conference League but also qualify for the Europa League through their league finish, the Premier League may not get a Conference League place at all.
Possible Maximum: 11 Premier League Teams in Europe
Though highly unlikely, there is a crazy scenario where 11 Premier League clubs qualify for Europe:
- Seven in the Champions League (via league and trophies)
- Three in the Europa League (FA Cup, Conference League, league finish)
- One in the Conference League (if no overlaps occur)
That would be a record number and show just how dominant English clubs are becoming in Europe.
What to Watch in the Coming Weeks
- The Premier League Europe spots will heavily depend on how English teams perform in the final stages of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
- Watch the league table and upcoming cup matches to see how qualification scenarios change.
- Clubs like Fulham, Bournemouth, and Crystal Palace still have a shot at European football depending on how things shake out.
