The Premier League could earn a fifth Champions League spot depending on UEFA coefficient rankings, with English clubs battling for qualification.
The race for Champions League qualification is intensifying across Europe, and in the Premier League, the fight for a place in next season’s competition is shaping up to be particularly fierce.
Clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City appear almost certain to secure qualification for the 2026–27 campaign. However, the battle for the remaining spots remains wide open, with Manchester United, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Liverpool all in contention.
It’s the question on everybody’s lips: will the Premier League get five spots in next season’s Champions League?
Well, after a better week in European competition the answer is… 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗹𝘆.@Conor0Neill_ explains why a single draw from one of the five… pic.twitter.com/1KFzteU0Q4
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) March 20, 2026
Under the current format, finishing in the top five could be enough to qualify for the Champions League. This is due to the competition’s recent expansion, but that additional spot is not guaranteed and depends on UEFA’s coefficient rankings.
With the introduction of the expanded 36-team format and the new Swiss model, UEFA now awards two extra Champions League places to the countries with the highest coefficient scores at the end of each season. These rankings are based on the performances of clubs in European competitions over a five-year period.
If England finishes among the top two nations in the coefficient standings, as they did last season, the Premier League will receive an extra qualification slot. In that scenario, the top five teams would all qualify directly for the Champions League league phase.
At present, England leads the UEFA coefficient rankings, putting them in a strong position to secure that fifth spot. However, the standings are still subject to change as European competitions progress toward their conclusion.
🚨 To Secure an Extra Champions League spot:
🏴 England – 100%
🇪🇸 Spain – 86%🇩🇪 Germany – 7%
🇵🇹 Portugal – 7%
🇮🇹 Italy – 0.00%✅ Top 2 nations will secure an extra Champions League spots!
(% per @LukaszBoz) pic.twitter.com/B4BnIqDZjt
— Football Rankings (@FootRankings) March 20, 2026
English clubs performed strongly during the league phase of European competitions, boosting their coefficient significantly but disappointing results in the round of 16 have slightly weakened their position, with several teams exiting earlier than expected.
Despite those setbacks, England remains ahead of rivals such as Spain, Germany, Portugal, Italy, and France in the coefficient table. With clubs still competing in Europe, the Premier League is well placed to retain one of the top two spots, meaning a fifth Champions League place remains highly likely.
