Up to seven Premier League clubs could take part in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, thanks in part to Manchester United’s dramatic late win over Lyon. Had United been knocked out of the Europa League, the chances of this happening would have dropped significantly.
Harry Maguire’s last-minute goal has kept alive United’s hopes of salvaging a disappointing season by winning the Europa League. If either United or Tottenham—who recently eliminated Eintracht Frankfurt to reach the semi-finals—go on to win the competition, they would automatically qualify for next season’s Champions League.
While it’s still a long shot, there’s a possible scenario where seven English teams make it into the tournament. Both United and Spurs would certainly welcome the financial boost that comes with Champions League football, but how could another five Premier League sides join them?
Pathways for English Clubs to Flood the Champions League
The Premier League, as usual, is guaranteed four Champions League spots for its top four finishers. Liverpool are on track to secure the title, needing just two more victories, which ensures their place next season. Arsenal currently sit second, with Manchester City, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, and Aston Villa all battling for spots in the top five. Due to England’s strong performances in European competitions, the Premier League is likely to receive a fifth Champions League slot via UEFA’s coefficient ranking.
That brings the total to six potential English qualifiers: the top five league finishers plus either United or Spurs if one of them wins the Europa League. But how could that number rise to seven?
Here’s the twist: if Arsenal were to drop out of the Premier League’s top five but go on to win the Champions League, they would still qualify for the tournament as titleholders. In that case, the team that finishes fifth in the Premier League would also keep their place—pushing the total to a remarkable seven English teams in Europe’s top competition.
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