Will Premier League get extra Champions League spot?

The “race for the top four” in the Premier League was synonymous with Champions League qualification in earlier times.

But that could change this season, with the Premier League leading the race to earn a fifth spot in Europe’s premier club competition.

The domestic leagues that perform best in Europe this year will receive two bonus spots in the 2025-26 Champions League, as was the case last year.

What does it mean?

As we approach the Champions League and Europa League’s final group games, supporters of Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest might be cheering on Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Manchester United.

Even a hypothetical scenario could give English clubs seven Champions League spots for the upcoming season.

Based on how their teams perform in Europe, each league receives a coefficient ranking.

Two wins and one draw earn coefficient points for the winning combination.

The number of clubs the domestic league has in Europe is calculated using the points earned by the domestic league.

For example, if the Premier League had 100 points, that would be split by the number of teams playing in Europe (seven) and give England a coefficient of 14.28.

Champions League clubs participating in the competition, such as Germany and Italy, are eligible for bonus points this season.

The nations with the highest coefficient table receive a second spot in the Champions League.

The teams with the best positions in those leagues receive those spots, according to the Champions League allocation.

The top four Premier League clubs are considered to be in the top four for league positions, so the fifth-place team would receive any additional spots.

As of 26 January, England is leading the coefficient table. The Premier League clubs have the highest average and most points totaled.

1. England – points: 100, average: 14.34

2. Italy – points: 88, average: 11.05

3. Spain – points: 82, average: 11.77

4. France – points: 66 average: 10.94

5. Germany – points: 79 – average: 9.88

The team that finished fifth this year will be eligible for the 2025-26 Champions League if the Premier League can get an additional spot.

Currently that is Newcastle.

However, Arsenal is currently in second place and Fulham is currently in ninth place, which leaves the race for the top five very much open.

Third-placed Nottingham Forest are enjoying a fantastic season, and Opta predictions predict them to have a 44% chance of placing in the top four.

Forest’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League rise to 63% if it is placed in fifth place.

Opta gives Newcastle a 27% chance of finishing in the top four and 45% in the top five, with Bournemouth at 13% and 26% respectively.

A Champions League spot is awarded to the Europa League champions.

In the Champions League, there were previously restrictions limiting the number of clubs in one league.

However, that rule has been scrapped.

Any team that wins the Europa League but does not, due to their domestic league status, qualify for the Champions League as well as the domestic qualifiers this season.

Now we’re getting specific.

The winners of the Champions League are guaranteed a place in next season’s competition.

Teams have occasionally won the Champions League, but they haven’t finished as far as Chelsea did in 2011-2012 when they did in their domestic league.

Due to the four-club ban on one country, Chelsea finished sixth in the Premier League, but they did succeed to earn a Champions League spot over Tottenham, who was fourth.

However, if Manchester City wins the Champions League this year but falls short of the Premier League’s qualifying spots, they will join those teams who have league standing.