According to the new Champions League format, 36 teams will participate instead of the previous 32. Of the four additional spots, UEFA reserves two for the two nations with the best performance in the three European competitions this season: the Champions League, the Europa League, and the Conference League. To qualify for these additional spots, a nation must be among the top two in UEFA's progressive ranking.

Throughout the 2025/26 season, English representatives maintained an impressive record in continental competitions. As of April 7, England led the coefficient points table this season with 25.013 points, far ahead of Spain, Germany, Portugal, and Italy.

This result is the culmination of English clubs' performance, from the group stage to the knockout rounds. And Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Sporting this morning was the final blow. With the points accumulated in the UEFA ranking, Arsenal has officially secured a spot among the top two in the Premier League.

The Premier League is no longer in danger of falling out of the top two spots in UEFA's performance ranking, regardless of its remaining results. This also means it will have at least five spots in the Champions League next season. The fifth spot will be awarded to the team that finishes fifth in the overall standings.

Liverpool and Chelsea are the two clubs that have benefited the most from the additional qualification spot offered by Arsenal. Currently, Liverpool is in fifth position, and Chelsea is in sixth. Neither can overtake Aston Villa to reach fourth position, as the difference is five points.

Therefore, the most realistic scenario is that both teams compete for fifth position and the last Champions League qualification spot. Even Brentford still has a chance, as it is only three points behind Liverpool with seven matches remaining.

Furthermore, English football could even have more than five clubs participating in the Champions League. If an English team wins the Europa League, an additional spot will be awarded to the winner. This is something Tottenham has achieved this season.

Similarly, if an English club wins the Champions League but does not finish the season in European qualification places, it will automatically qualify as the defending champion. This scenario could lead to an even greater increase in the number of Premier League representatives.

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