How LaLiga could have ten teams playing European football next season
Many stars would need to align for ten Spanish teams to be involved in UEFA competitions next season.
As we eagerly await the quarterfinals across all three UEFA club competitions next month, thoughts are already turning to the forthcoming season with the battle in LaLiga this season for fifth place anticipated to gurantatte a place in next season’s Champions League.
After the Round of 16 games, LaLiga strengthened its position in joining the Premier League with bot set to obtain five places in the 2026/27 UCL via the UEFA coefficient rankings.
The UEFA club coefficient is a performance score used to rank and seed teams in European competitions (Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League) and is calculated over a five-season rolling period.
🔝 To win an extra 🔵 UCL spot (Top 2):
— Football Meets Data (@fmeetsdata) March 20, 2026
100% 🏴 England
94.5% 🇪🇸 Spain (📈 +8%)
--
2.9% 🇵🇹 Portugal (📉 -3%)
2.6% 🇩🇪 Germany (📉 -5%)
With 6 teams still active, 🇪🇸 Spain are now overwhelming favourites for the extra UCL spot.
👉 Full probabilities and scenarios available in… pic.twitter.com/ePlE0Sl0Tl
Ten LaLiga teams in Europe next season?
It is theoretically possible but a tall order for 10 LaLiga clubs to play in European football next season.
To reach that number, a perfect storm of specific domestic and continental outcomes would have to occur.
UEFA awards Spain a guaranteed seven spots in Europe each season and these are awarded to:
Champions League (UCL): Top 4 finishers.
Europa League (UEL): 5th place + Copa del Rey winner.
Conference League (UECL): 6th place.
To push that number from 7 up to 10, La Liga would need to trigger three specific “bonus” scenarios:
8th place secures European football: The first of these scenarios looks feasible with Spain set to finish as one of the top two nations in UEFA’s season coefficient which would see the 5th-place team secure a UCL spot and shifts the UEL/UECL spots down.
9th place secures European football: A Spanish team wins the Champions League or Europa League but finishes outside the top 8 in La Liga. At present Real Betis and Celta Vigo are in the quarterfinals of the Europa League but sit in 5th/6th respectively in LaLiga.
10th placed team secures European football: A Spanish team wins the Conference League but finishes outside the top 8 in La Liga. At present Rayo Vallecano are in the quarterfinals of the Conference League (they face AEK Athens) with ‘Rayito’ sitting in 14th place in LaLiga.
The #UECL last 8 are locked in 🔒 pic.twitter.com/5zeDqhSR34
— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) March 19, 2026
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment