Scenario of 11 Premier League teams participating in European cups next season

The Premier League could witness a new record with up to 11 teams competing in European cups for the 2026/27 season, a rare but entirely possible scenario.

This season, already nine Premier League teams have participated in European competitions. Although Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur were eliminated from the Champions League, Liverpool and Arsenal continue to advance strongly. In the Europa League, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest have reached the quarter-finals, while Crystal Palace also features in the Conference League's round of the top eight teams.

How the Premier League could secure 11 European spots

According to The Athletic, based on regulations, the top four Premier League teams will secure Champions League qualification. However, since the tournament expanded to 36 teams, UEFA has allocated two additional spots based on performance (EPS). The Premier League is likely to gain one more spot, raising the total to five teams in the Champions League.

Currently, this group includes Arsenal, Man City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Liverpool. Additionally: The sixth-place team and the FA Cup champion will enter the Europa League, and the Carabao Cup champion will participate in the Conference League (or be promoted if they already hold a higher qualification). This enables the Premier League to have 7-8 European cup spots readily available.

Possible "crazy" scenarios that could unfold

The situation becomes more complex if cup champions:

• First, if Nottingham Forest wins the Europa League, they will secure a Champions League spot even if they narrowly avoid relegation.
• Second, if Crystal Palace wins the Conference League, they will earn a Europa League spot. At that point, the number of English teams in European cups could increase to 9-10 teams.

The 11-team scenario: when everything "goes perfectly"

The most improbable scenario occurs if:

• Liverpool and Aston Villa fall out of the top five but win the Champions League and Europa League respectively
• The top five retains their Champions League spots
• Europa League and Conference League spots are allocated to lower positions

Then:

• 7 teams in the Champions League
• 3 teams in the Europa League
• 1 team in the Conference League

Total: 11 Premier League teams in European cups, accounting for over half of the league.

The race remains extremely unpredictable

Currently, the race for the top five is very tense. Liverpool (49 points) is only slightly ahead of Brentford and Everton, while Fulham, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Bournemouth are fiercely chasing. Just a few fluctuations in the final stages of the season could completely alter the landscape.

Although the 11-team scenario is highly unlikely, given the current developments, the Premier League could certainly continue to assert its dominance as Europe's leading league next season.