As the Premier League season approaches its dramatic climax, teams are jostling not just for league positions but also for coveted spots in next season’s UEFA competitions — the Champions League (UCL), Europa League (UEL), and the Europa Conference League (UCoL). While the top four race remains crucial, recent rule changes, cup outcomes, and European performances have added fresh complexities to qualification scenarios. Here’s a breakdown of how Premier League clubs can make it to Europe next season.
The Usual Allocation and What’s Changed
Under normal circumstances, the Premier League sends seven clubs to Europe each season: four to the Champions League (positions 1-4), one to the Europa League (5th place), and one each via the FA Cup and Carabao Cup if those winners haven’t already qualified through the league.
However, for the 2024-25 season, England has secured one of UEFA’s two European Performance Spots (EPS), granted to the premier leagues with the best collective performance across Europe’s three competitions. As a result, the Premier League will now send five teams to the Champions League, regardless of cup outcomes.
This means the new European allocation, before any other adjustments, is:
Champions League: 1st to 5th in the league
Europa League: 6th place + FA Cup winners
Conference League: Carabao Cup winners
Impact of Cup Winners on European Places
Domestic cup winners can significantly alter European allocations. For instance, Crystal Palace, who triumphed over Manchester City in the FA Cup final, automatically qualify for the Europa League group stage, regardless of their 12th-place league finish. Since they didn’t finish in a qualifying position via the league, they take up a dedicated UEL slot, and no place is passed down to the league.
Newcastle United, meanwhile, claimed the Carabao Cup title by beating Liverpool 2-1 in the final. This gives them a Conference League spot. However, if Newcastle finish inside the top five or six, which looks increasingly likely as they sit third with a four-point cushion, their Conference League place would pass to the 7th-placed team in the league.
So far, the secure allocations are:
Champions League: 1st to 5th
Europa League: 6th + Crystal Palace (FA Cup winners)
Conference League: Newcastle (Carabao Cup winners), unless they qualify for a higher tier
Europa League Final: United or Spurs Set to Join UCL
One of the season’s biggest wildcards is the outcome of the UEFA Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, set to take place in Bilbao on May 21.
Neither club is likely to finish in the top six domestically. However, the winner will automatically qualify for the Champions League, as UEFA grants direct UCL entry to the Europa League champion. This outcome is significant because it pushes the total number of Premier League clubs in Europe to nine, and six clubs in the Champions League, a new high.
Revised allocation:
Champions League: 1st to 5th + UEL winner (Man United or Spurs)
Europa League: 6th + Crystal Palace
Conference League: Newcastle (or 7th if Newcastle finishes top 6)
The Chelsea Equation: How UCoL Could Unlock a Ninth Spot
Chelsea’s participation in the UEFA Conference League final against Real Betis on May 28 adds another twist. The winner of the UCoL qualifies for the Europa League next season. Chelsea are currently fourth, but a final-day clash with seventh-placed Nottingham Forest could change that.
If Chelsea win the UCoL and finish within the top five, it doesn’t affect the current distribution — they’ll be in the Champions League. However, if they finish sixth, they would claim a Europa League place as UCoL winners, pushing their league-based UEL spot down to the 7th-placed team.
That scenario would mean:
Champions League: 1st to 5th + UEL winner
Europa League: 7th + Crystal Palace + Chelsea (UCoL winners)
Conference League: Newcastle (or 8th, if Newcastle is top 6)
This cascading effect could open the door to a tenth English club in Europe, depending on final placements.
What to Watch on the Final Day of the Premier League
As the premier league finale looms, fans and clubs will be keeping a close eye on several key fixtures and permutations:
Chelsea vs. Nottingham Forest: Could determine whether Chelsea finishing 6th unlocks Europa League football for the 7th-placed side.
Newcastle’s League Finish: Will decide if their Conference League place goes to another club.
The UEL Final (Man United vs. Spurs): Confirms the sixth Champions League spot.
UCoL Final (Chelsea vs. Real Betis): Could generate an additional Europa League spot.
One thing is certain — nine Premier League clubs will be in Europe next season, and the final total could rise to ten depending on Chelsea’s success and Newcastle’s final position. As the dust settles, England’s dominance in European football continues to grow.
