England Winning the Race for an Extra Champions League Spot

The Premier League is currently on track to secure an additional Champions League spot for the 2025-26 season, thanks to the strong performances of English clubs in European competitions. This is based on the UEFA coefficient rankings, which determine how many spots each country’s league is allocated in the Champions League.

How Countries Earn Extra Champions League Spots

Each country’s league earns a coefficient ranking based on how their teams perform in UEFA’s three men’s club competitions: the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. Coefficient points are awarded for match results — two points for a win and one for a draw. These points are then added up and divided by the number of clubs the league has in Europe.

For example, if the Premier League accumulates 100 points and has seven teams in Europe, England’s coefficient would be 14.28. This season, bonus points are also available to clubs playing in the Champions League, which benefits leagues like Germany and Italy, who have more teams in the competition.

England Leads the Coefficient Rankings

At present, the Premier League is in the top position in the coefficient rankings, with six of its seven teams advancing to the last 16 across all three UEFA competitions. Meanwhile, Spain is in third place, while Italy, currently second, suffered setbacks in February with clubs like AC Milan, Atalanta, and Juventus exiting the Champions League in the knockout play-off round.

Germany and France face challenges too, with Bayern Munich and Dortmund in the same half of the Champions League draw, and only Paris St-Germain and Lille remaining in the competition from France.

Which Premier League Team Could Benefit?

If the Premier League secures the extra spot, the team finishing fifth in the table will qualify for the 2025-26 Champions League. As of February 20, Bournemouth currently occupies that position, but the race is tight. Just 10 points separate the eight clubs from third to 10th, making the battle for Champions League qualification one of the most exciting aspects of the season.

Europa League Winners Could Add Another Slot

England could end up with six teams in the Champions League next season. The winners of the Europa League are also granted a Champions League slot, and the previous rule limiting a single league to a maximum of five clubs has been scrapped. This opens the door for teams like Manchester United or Tottenham, who are in the Europa League knockout stages but struggling in the Premier League, to qualify alongside the top five.

Premier League Remains Cautious

Despite the strong position, the Premier League is taking nothing for granted. Last season, hopes were dashed when Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, and West Ham were eliminated in the quarter-finals of UEFA competitions, with Aston Villa’s exit from the Conference League semi-finals sealing the disappointment. This season, however, England is in an even stronger position, and it would take a complete collapse for the fifth-placed team to miss out.

When is the Champions League Last-16 Draw?

The draw for the last-16 stage of the Champions League is on Friday, 21 February, starting at 11:00 GMT. Fans can follow the draw on the BBC Sport website and app, with live updates for the Europa League and Conference League draws as well.