The 2024-25 European qualification race is reaching a mind-bending climax, with up to 10 Premier League clubs potentially set to feature in UEFA competitions next season.
With Newcastle United lifting the Carabao Cup, Crystal Palace stunning Manchester City in the FA Cup final, and Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur still hunting European glory, the traditional rules are being rewritten.
Here’s your complete breakdown of how the top flight could break records and send an unprecedented wave of clubs across the continent.
Confirmed So Far: Six Champions League Places for England
Thanks to outstanding collective performances in Europe this season — capped by Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid — the Premier League has secured an extra Champions League place via UEFA’s European Performance Spots (EPS). This means:
Top 5 in the Premier League = Champions League
Europa League winners (Tottenham or Manchester United) = Champions League
With neither Spurs nor United qualifying via the league, their Europa League title guarantees a sixth Champions League spot for England.
The Basic Allocation… and the Surprises
Normally, UEFA slots are distributed as follows:
Champions League: 1st to 4th in the league
Europa League: 5th and FA Cup winners
Conference League: Carabao Cup winners
But 2024-25 isn’t normal.
Here’s what we know now:
Champions League: 1st to 5th in the league, plus Spurs or United (UEL winners)
Europa League: 6th in the league, plus Crystal Palace (FA Cup winners)
Conference League: Newcastle United (Carabao Cup winners) — but only if they don’t finish top 6
Newcastle’s Surge Could Push the Conference League Place Down
Newcastle’s win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup ensures them at least a place in the Conference League. But Eddie Howe’s team now sit 3rd in the table and are highly likely to finish inside the top five.
If that happens, their Conference League place is passed down to the 7th-placed team in the league.
That means the Premier League keeps nine teams in Europe — but the story doesn’t end there.
Chelsea: The Chaos Catalyst
Chelsea are the wild card. They’ve reached the Conference League final (against Real Betis) and are currently 4th in the Premier League. Depending on their result and final league finish, they could unlock a 10th European place.
Let’s break it down.
Scenario 1: Chelsea Win the Conference League AND Finish Top 5
Chelsea go to the Champions League through the league.
Their Conference League title gives no extra slot (you can’t get two).
Result: No change. The UCL, UEL, and UCoL spots stay with the top 5, Palace, and Newcastle.
Scenario 2: Chelsea Win UCoL AND Finish 6th
Chelsea get into the Europa League via UCoL title.
Palace still go to the UEL as FA Cup winners.
Newcastle (top 5) gives their UCoL spot to 7th.
Result: 9 teams in Europe, 3 in UEL, 1 in UCoL, and no UCoL spot lost.
Scenario 3: Chelsea Win UCoL AND Finish Outside the Top 6 (e.g. 7th)
This is where things get spicy.
Chelsea go into the UEL as UCoL winners.
Palace in the UEL.
Newcastle finish top 5, so UCoL spot moves to 6th.
EPS kicks in, pushing everything down.
8th place now enters the Conference League.
That’s 10 Premier League teams in Europe, including EIGHTH PLACE — a Premier League first.
The 10-Team Line-up (If Chaos Reigns)
If everything breaks for England, and Chelsea win the Conference League while finishing outside the top six, the UEFA slots would be:
Champions League (6): League positions 1-5, + Spurs or Man United (UEL winners)
Europa League (3): Crystal Palace (FA Cup), Chelsea (UCoL), 6th
Conference League (1): 8th place!
That’s 10 clubs flying the English flag in UEFA competition — a monumental expansion from the traditional seven.
Final Day = Massive Stakes for Forest, Brentford, Brighton
With Chelsea sitting 4th but still within reach of 6th or 7th depending on results, teams like Nottingham Forest (7th), Brentford, and Brighton all have a reason to dream.
If Chelsea drop points AND win the Conference League, the race for eighth suddenly becomes a golden ticket to Europe.
One Last Twist: Chelsea’s Power to Choose
UEFA rules state that a Conference League winner who qualifies for the UCL through their league finish can choose which competition to play in.
Chelsea would obviously opt for the Champions League, but this rule exists to protect smaller clubs from low-ranked leagues who might prefer the guaranteed UEL group stage over UCL qualifiers.
Europe’s Most Packed Party Awaits
In summary, the Premier League’s performance across Europe this season has opened the door to unprecedented access to UEFA competitions.
All eyes now turn to the final matchdays — and that Conference League final on May 28 — where Chelsea could ignite the final domino to take eighth place to Europe.
Guaranteed Facts
Premier League gets 5 UCL spots via the European Performance Spot (EPS).
Man United or Tottenham will win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League.
Crystal Palace won the FA Cup and will play in the Europa League.
Newcastle United won the Carabao Cup and currently hold the Conference League spot.
Chelsea are in the Conference League final against Real Betis and are 4th in the table (with a game in hand).
Base Allocation (Before Movement)
Champions League: 1st to 5th + UEL winner (Man United/Tottenham)
Europa League: 6th + Crystal Palace (FA Cup)
Conference League: Newcastle (Carabao Cup) unless they qualify for UCL/UEL
This already gives 9 teams in Europe.
Key Scenarios & Shifts
If Chelsea win the Conference League and finish top 5:
No extra Europa League place created.
Europe lineup:
UCL: Top 5 + UEL winner = 6 teams
UEL: 6th + Crystal Palace
UCoL: Newcastle (or 7th if Newcastle finish in top 6)
If Chelsea win Conference League and finish 6th:
Premier League gets 3 UEL teams:
Chelsea (as UCoL winner), Palace, 7th (via league due to Chelsea pushing the order)
UCoL spot disappears (no representative).
EPS shifts places, so 7th becomes UEL, 8th gets UCoL.
If Chelsea win Conference League and finish outside top 6 (e.g., 7th):
Chelsea qualify for UEL
If Newcastle finish top 6:
8th in PL gets the UCoL spot due to EPS and order shifting.
Max total of 10 English teams in Europe:
UCL (6): Top 5 + UEL winner
UEL (3): Palace, Chelsea, league-based
UCoL (1): 8th-place team
Final Allocation Possibilities
Scenario UCL UEL UCoL Total
Chelsea lose UCoL final Top 5 + UEL winner (6) 6th + Palace (2) Newcastle or 7th (1) 9
Chelsea win UCoL + top 5 Top 5 + UEL winner (6) 6th + Palace (2) Newcastle or 7th (1) 9
Chelsea win UCoL + finish 6th Top 5 + UEL winner (6) Palace + Chelsea + 7th (3) — 9
Chelsea win UCoL + finish 7th, Newcastle top 6 Top 5 + UEL winner (6) Palace + Chelsea + 6th (3) 8th 10
Bottom Line for Clubs Around 7th/8th
7th is likely to get UCoL if Newcastle finish top 6 and Chelsea don’t finish 6th.
8th could sneak into UCoL if Chelsea win UCoL and Newcastle are top 6.
Every European slot depends heavily on final table & Chelsea’s UCoL outcome.
