Frank Christian
In the closing months of the current season, teams in the upper half of the Premier League standings will be striving for European spots as they engage in league matches.
Beyond the champion, four additional teams will gain entry to UEFA’s premier event, the Champions League, while at least four other clubs will secure their positions in the Europa League and Europa Conference League.
Thanks to England’s strong UEFA coefficient, there is a fifth spot available for the Champions League, adding one more opportunity beyond the usual four.
The Sporting News provides insight into which teams are vying for qualification in each tournament.
Which Premier League clubs are set for European competition?
Here’s an overview of the Premier League clubs aiming for European qualification in the 2025/26 season.
Rankings and slots updated after games played on Friday, May 16, 2025.
Champions League
| Position | Team | Games Played | Points | Wins-Draws-Losses | Goal Difference |
| 1. | Liverpool (C) | 36 | 83 | 25-8-3 | +46 |
| 2. | Arsenal | 36 | 68 | 18-14-4 | +33 |
| 3. | Newcastle | 36 | 66 | 29-6-10 | +23 |
| 4. | Chelsea | 37 | 66 | 19-9-9 | +20 |
| 5. | Aston Villa | 37 | 66 | 19-9-9 | +9 |
Europa League
| Position | Team | Games Played | Points | Wins-Draws-Losses | Goal Difference |
| 6. | Manchester City | 36 | 65 | 19-8-9 | +24 |
Conference League
| Position | Team | Games Played | Points | Wins-Draws-Losses | Goal Difference |
| 7. | Nottingham Forest | 36 | 62 | 18-8-10 | +12 |
Contenders Outside the Qualification Zones
| Position | Team | Games Played | Points | Wins-Draws-Losses | Goal Difference |
| 8. | Brentford | 36 | 55 | 16-7-13 | +10 |
| 9. | Brighton | 36 | 55 | 14-13-9 | +3 |
| 10. | Bournemouth | 36 | 53 | 14-11-11 | +12 |
Several factors could influence the prospects for these qualifications:
- Victors of each European tournament in the 2024/25 season will gain automatic qualification to the higher-tier event if they emerge victorious. If a Premier League team secures such a victory and has also qualified through the league, their place will transfer to the next eligible team not already in the identified competition.
- In theory, up to six clubs from the Premier League COULD qualify for the Champions League, contingent on the additional fifth slot and either Tottenham or Manchester United winning the Europa League this campaign.
- The FA Cup winners for the 2024/25 season will automatically qualify for the Europa League phase. If they already qualify for the Champions League or Europa League based on their league standing, the spot will go to the highest-ranked team not already qualified for the Europa League.
- Newcastle’s triumph in the 2024/25 EFL Cup guarantees them a position in the Europa Conference League league phase. Should Newcastle qualify for the Champions or Europa League through their league finish, their spot in the Conference League will go to the next highest-ranked team not already in the Europa League.
