Four EFL clubs could secure European qualification through a loophole unused for three decades.

Four English Football League (EFL) clubs could soon have a pathway to European competition through a newly proposed domestic tournament.

For football fans, few experiences compare to seeing their team compete in prestigious tournaments, especially European competitions that bring together clubs from across the continent to vie for glory.

According to The Guardian, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) has proposed a new domestic cup tournament that would allow four Welsh clubs currently playing in the EFL to compete for a chance at European qualification. The tournament would include the four Welsh EFL teams—Wrexham, Cardiff City, Newport County, and Swansea City—alongside 12 clubs from the JD Cymru Premier.

Under the proposal, the winner of this revamped Welsh League Cup would earn a spot in the qualifying rounds of a UEFA club competition, creating a new opportunity for these clubs to experience European football.

This initiative could see Wrexham, Cardiff City, Newport County, and Swansea City represent Wales in European tournaments for the first time in 30 years. Wrexham last represented Wales in the 1995-96 Cup Winners’ Cup, while Swansea participated in the 2013 Europa League under the English flag after winning the EFL Cup.

FAW chief executive Noel Mooney described the proposal as transformative, stating: “This will be a gamechanger for the development of the game as we work to unlock the full potential of Welsh football. It will unite Welsh football, improve the game at all levels, and deliver meaningful societal benefits across Wales, making our clubs and communities more sustainable.”

The four EFL Welsh clubs have also agreed that any profits earned from competing in Europe will not be subject to financial regulations in the EFL or Premier League. Instead, these funds will be reinvested into Welsh football, helping grow the sport at all levels.

Mooney added: “The competition will generate significant additional revenue through a revamped Welsh League Cup. This income will be distributed throughout the JD Cymru Premier, Genero Adran Premier [Wales’ top women’s league], and grassroots facilities across Wales.”

The tournament would follow a four-round knockout format and is projected to generate an additional £3 million annually. Following discussions with UEFA and the Welsh Government, the competition could launch as early as next season, pending final approval.