Seven Premier League teams in the Champions League? Here's how it could happen next season

The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League will once again have more Premier League teams than usual, thanks to Arsenal securing an extra slot for the English top flight with their 1-0 first-leg quarter-final win over Sporting on Tuesday.

That means the current race for European spots in the Premier League just got a little bit bigger as more teams are able to challenge for continental competition next season.

Here's how it all works.

How many Premier League teams could qualify for the Champions League?

As one of the top five rated leagues according to UEFA's association coefficients, the Premier League regularly places four teams into the Champions League. These are usually the top four finishers after each season, and for 2026-27 those four spots are once again up for grabs.

Additionally, UEFA will allocate European Performance Spots (EPS) for each of the top two nations of the 2025–26 association coefficients. Essentially, these two spots are rewards for performing well, and Arsenal's victory over Sporting cemented an additional berth for England in the 26-27 tournament, meaning the top five Premier League finishers will qualify for next season's Champions League.

However, there are still scenarios in which a sixth or even seventh Premier League club could be included in the next Champions League.

What if Arsenal or Liverpool win the current Champions League?

With Arsenal and Liverpool still alive in the current competition, there remains a possibility that either team could win the Champions League and potentially earn another berth for the Premier League.

Should either Arsenal or Liverpool win the current Champions League and finish outside the top four of the Premier League, then six of the Premier League's clubs would play in next season's Champions League. Of course, it's not possible for Arsenal to drop outside of the top four at this point, so this scenario can only happen if Liverpool remain outside the Premier League's top four and win the current Champions League.

What if Aston Villa or Nottingham Forest win the Europa League?

As seen with Tottenham Hotspur last season, there's another route on offer for Premier League teams to reach the Champions League — win the Europa League.

Villa are currently among the top four in the Premier League and could qualify for next season's Champions League through that avenue. But if they win the Europa League, their finishing position in the Premier League would determine whether England gets another 26-27 Champions League berth. In short, the scenario is the same for Aston Villa as it is for Liverpool: If they win the Europa League and finish outside the Premier League's top four, that would earn another Champions League berth for England.

As for Forest, the scenario is much more straightforward: If the Tricky Tress claim the Europa League title this season then there will be at least six English clubs in the Champions League next season as Forest cannot finish fourth or higher in the Premier League.

How could the Premier League have seven entrants in the Champions League next season?

Put simply, Liverpool would need to win the current Champions League and Villa likewise with the Europa League, with them finishing fifth and sixth in the Premier League (in no particular order).

In that specific case, the seventh place Premier League team would claim the EPS berth, with all of the top six also qualifying.

How many Premier League teams could qualify for Europe next season?

Up to 11 Premier League clubs could be involved in European competition next season.

For that to happen, all three current European trophies need to be won by Premier League sides, and those winners will need to finish outside the top six of the Premier League standings.

This is a highly unlikely scenario that involves a lot to go right across multiple competitions, but it is feasible.

How to watch the Champions League on DAZN

• Canada: Watch every Champions League game with a DAZN subscription

• U.S.: Watch three exclusive Champions League games every match week, in Spanish language, with a DAZN subscription

• New Zealand:  Watch every Champions League game with a DAZN subscription with a special 25% flex offer, now just $23.99. 

Click here for pricing and details in your country