A Potential 11 English Teams in European Competitions Next Season

This season saw an impressive nine English clubs qualify for European football, and there is a chance that two more could join them for the 2026-27 season.

Current European Representation from England

The Champions League spots this season have been claimed by Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Tottenham Hotspur. Additionally, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest earned their places in the Europa League, while Crystal Palace is set to compete in the Conference League.

Interestingly, there is a possibility for England to boast 11 teams participating in European competitions next year. Here’s how that might happen.

Understanding England’s European Spots

Historically, the top four teams in the Premier League have secured places in the Champions League. However, following UEFA’s expansion of the tournament two years ago, this has now increased to five spots due to England’s high ranking in UEFA’s coefficient table, which measures European performance.

Although formal confirmation for next season is still pending, England’s current position—well ahead of Spain—suggests that the five Champions League spots are likely secure. Even a disappointing performance from English teams in this season’s Champions League should have minimal impact on this standing.

Apart from the Champions League, England is also awarded two spots in the Europa League: for the sixth-place team and the FA Cup winner. The Carabao Cup winner receives a berth in the Conference League qualifiers, which can pass to the next highest-placed team in the league if the winner has already qualified for a higher tier.

In essence, based on the current standings and the coefficient table, England could potentially secure eight European spots.

Scenario for Nine English Teams in Europe

To achieve nine teams in Europe, similar conditions to those of this season would need to occur. For example, if Nottingham Forest were to win the Europa League from a low Premier League position, it would push six English teams into the Champions League.

Moreover, if one of the remaining “Big Six” teams—Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, or Arsenal—wins the FA Cup while remaining in the top six of the league, their Europa League slot from the victory would be given to the next highest team in the league. Should City finish in the top five and win the Carabao Cup, their Conference League spot would similarly roll over to the eighth-placed team in the league. This combination could bring the total to nine teams competing in Europe next year.

Possibility of Ten English Teams in Europe

If all the aforementioned scenarios occur, alongside Crystal Palace securing a second consecutive major trophy with a win in the Conference League, the interest would heighten. Their triumph in that tournament would secure a Europa League position, making Palace the third English club in that competition, thus allowing a total of ten teams to qualify for European competitions.

Currently, they face Fiorentina in the quarterfinals.

Path to Eleven English Teams in Europe

There exists a slim possibility that more than half of the Premier League could find themselves in European competitions next season—something rare in football history, especially considering the changes due to UEFA’s Champions League expansion and the introduction of the Conference League.

For this to happen, both Liverpool and Aston Villa would need to achieve success in their respective European tournaments—Liverpool in the Champions League and Aston Villa in the Europa League—while finishing outside the top five. If this occurs, both would secure Champions League spots, bringing seven English teams into that competition.

In conjunction with three other teams qualifying for the Europa League, if Palace does not finish in the top six, an additional team could fill the remaining Conference League spot. This chain reaction could confirm participation for 11 English teams in European competitions next season.