The idea of 11 Premier League teams playing in Europe may sound unlikely, but under current rules, it is possible.
In recent seasons, qualification for European competitions has become more complex. A major reason is the introduction of European Performance Spots (EPS). These are extra Champions League places given to the two leagues with the best results in Europe each season.
The Premier League has already secured one of these extra places for the 2026–27 season after Arsenal beat Sporting CP 1-0.
This means England will have at least eight teams in European competitions next season.
How the places are shared
With the extra spot, the current plan looks like this:
• Fifth place goes into the Champions League
• Sixth place goes into the Europa League
• Seventh place goes into the Conference League
The race for fifth place is very close. Liverpool are currently fifth with 49 points, but several teams are just behind them, making the battle very tight.
What if Liverpool win the Champions League?
If Liverpool win the UEFA Champions League and finish in the top four, nothing changes. England will still have five teams in the Champions League and eight in Europe.
However, if they win it and finish outside the top four, then six English teams will qualify for the Champions League:
• The top four teams
• Liverpool as champions
• The EPS place
In this case, one Europa League spot would be lost, meaning the total number of English teams in Europe would remain eight.
This happens because UEFA rules say if a team qualifies for both a higher and lower competition, the lower place must be given up.
Could England get nine teams in Europe?
Yes, but only if Liverpool win the Champions League and finish outside the normal European places. That means finishing below the top six or seven, depending on cup results.
What if another English team wins the Europa League?
If Aston Villa win the UEFA Europa League, the situation is similar to Liverpool’s case. Their final league position would decide whether England gains an extra place or loses one.
But things are different for Nottingham Forest. If they win the Europa League, they cannot qualify for Europe through the league. So England would automatically have:
• Six teams in the Champions League
• At least nine teams in Europe overall
So how could 11 teams qualify?
For the Premier League to send as many as 11 teams to Europe, several rare outcomes must happen at the same time:
• English clubs win multiple European competitions
• Some of those winners finish outside the normal qualification places
• Domestic cup winners also take European spots
While it is unlikely, the rules make it possible. For now, one thing is certain — the Premier League will have at least eight teams playing in Europe next season, and possibly even more depending on how results go.
