Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 1:07 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 1:08 p.m.
In the 2025/2026 season, the Premier League was represented by a record number of 9 teams. There is a scenario where the number would go up to 11 next season!
There are 7 more stages to play in this Premier League season. Considering the coefficient achieved by the Island's clubs in European competitions, England will once again be one of two countries with an extra place in the Champions League next season – So a total of 5 seats at the table of the rich.
On the current table configuration, the top 5 teams (Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool) would qualify for the Champions League, 6th place (Chelsea) and the winner of the FA Cup would represent the country in the Europa League, and the winner of the League Cup would go to the Conference League.
But how this competition was won by Manchester Cityand Pep Guardiola's side will surely qualify for a Champions League spot, the Conference League position will be ceded to the top-placed league that does not qualify for a higher competition.
Current situation: 8 teams in Europe
The calculations get more complicated when looking at the FA Cup table. In the quarters of the competition, 4 teams from the TOP 6 in the Premier League are qualified: Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool, the last two will face each other in a direct match.
If any of these teams win the FA Cup and retain their position in the TOP 6 in the Championship, then England's second ticket to the Europa League would have “passed” to 7th place in the championship. If one of the other quarter-finalists (Port Vale, Southampton, West Ham and Leeds) lift the trophy, it will participate in the Europa League alongside the 6th place in the championship.
In this first scenario, with a FA Cup winning TOP 6 team and Manchester City already winning the League Cup, the Conference League ticket would go to 8th in the Championship.
Unlikely scenario: Premier League to give 11 teams in European cups
So, it is very likely that England will send 8 teams to the European Cups in the 2026/2027 season, but under certain conditions the number could increase to 9, 10, even 11, according to The Athletic.
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If Nottingham Forestbottom of the Championship, win the Europa League, then they would become the sixth English team in the 2026/2027 Champions League and the ninth overall in European cups.
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On top of that, if Crystal Palace (14th place in the domestic championship) would win the Conference League, qualify for the Europa League and take the number of English teams in European cups to 10 (6 in the League, 3 in the Europa League, one in the Conference).
The calculations are getting complicated for the 11th place in Europe: they depend on what Liverpool and Aston Villa will achieve this end of the season.
If Liverpool win the Champions League, Aston Villa win the Europa League and both finish LOWER than 5ththen they would represent England in the main interclub competition alongside the TOP 5 teams – so the Premier League would give SEVEN teams in the League.
In this unlikely scenario, next-placed in the league (8th), Crystal Palace (assuming they win the Conference League) and the FA Cup winner (or 9th in the league) would represent England in the Europa League, and the 9th or 10th-placed team (depending on the FA Cup winner) would take the place in the Conference League.
So a total of 11 English teams in European cups. Or, if you like, 55% of the championship – obviously, this is provided that the FA Cup is not won by a lower league team, such as Southampton (Championship) or Port Vale (League One).
Sure, an unlikely scenario, but given that Unai Emery (Aston Villa) is a Europa League specialist and Liverpool a multiple Champions League winner, can we say it would be shocking to happen?
