The Premier League has secured a fifth Champions League spot for the 2025-26 season following Arsenal\'s 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in Tuesday\'s quarterfinal match, confirming England\'s position at the top of UEFA\'s European Performance rankings.
The additional Champions League berth comes as part of UEFA\'s expanded 36-team tournament format, with England earning one of two extra \"European Performance Spots\" (EPS) awarded to the two best-performing leagues across all three European competitions this season. Spain is currently positioned to claim the second additional spot, though Italy remains mathematically in contention.
The fifth-place finish in next season\'s Premier League will now guarantee Champions League qualification, intensifying the current battle among several clubs. Chelsea and Newcastle United (both with 53 points) currently occupy fourth and fifth positions, with Manchester City (52), Aston Villa (51), Fulham (48) and Brighton (47) all still in contention.
Should Aston Villa win this season\'s Champions League and finish fifth domestically, six Premier League teams would qualify for next season\'s competition. The maximum allocation could reach seven teams if English clubs win multiple European trophies while finishing outside the domestic qualification places.
\"The Premier League\'s consistent performance across all European competitions has earned this additional Champions League spot, reflecting the depth of quality throughout the league,\" a UEFA spokesperson noted. \"With five guaranteed participants next season, English football will have unprecedented representation in Europe\'s premier club competition.\"
Last season, Italy and Germany benefited from the additional Champions League spots, with Bologna and Borussia Dortmund qualifying after fifth-place finishes in their respective leagues.