Why does the English Premier League have six teams in the 2025/26 Champions League?
UEFA’s new system of extra spots reshapes the showpiece competition, favoring some leagues over others.
The Champions League 2025/26 is ready to kick off and, after the qualifying rounds, the 36 clubs competing for the coveted trophy are confirmed.
The 2024/25 season marked a turning point in the tournament’s format. UEFA not only expanded the number of participants but also introduced a performance-based system that rewards countries whose clubs excelled in European competitions the previous year.
As a result, England and Spain secured extra spots, though with a difference: the Premier League will field six clubs, while LaLiga will send five.
The country coefficient: the key to distribution
The root of this difference lies in the so-called “country performance coefficient,” a ranking that measures the collective results of clubs from each league in European competition.
UEFA awarded two additional places to the leagues with the best records in the 2023/24 campaign. England and Germany benefited, which allowed the Premier League to add a sixth representative.
Spain also gained an extra spot, but combined with its four guaranteed berths as one of Europe’s top leagues, that brings the total to five. The contrast with England is due to the fact that the Europa League champion was English – a factor that freed up yet another Champions League place for the Premier League.
- Dream draw or fixture list from hell: the potential games
- Real Madrid’s possible opponents in 2025/26 UCL league phase
- The million-dollar prize money on the line in the 25/26 UCL
Why the Europa League winner matters
The second reason behind England’s six teams is Tottenham’s Europa League triumph last season. Under UEFA rules, the winner of that tournament earns an automatic Champions League berth, regardless of domestic league position.
If the champion has already qualified through its league finish, that slot is released and reassigned, raising the total number of representatives from that country.
This explains why England, for the first time, will send six clubs to the Champions League, while Spain – without a European champion adding an extra ticket – remains on five. UEFA’s new framework is designed to reward recent performance and enhance competitiveness, though it also reinforces the dominance of the biggest leagues.
Champions League 2025/26 – teams by country
England – 6
Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur
Spain – 5
Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal
Italy – 4
Napoli, Inter Milan, Atalanta, Juventus
Germany – 4
Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt
France – 3
Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Monaco
Netherlands – 2
PSV Eindhoven, Ajax
Portugal – 2
Sporting CP, Benfica
Belgium – 2
Club Brugge, Union Saint-Gilloise
Greece – 1
Olympiacos
Czech Republic – 1
Slavia Prague
Turkey – 1
Galatasaray
Norway – 1
Bodø/Glimt
Denmark – 1
Copenhagen
Azerbaijan – 1
Qarabağ
Kazakhstan – 1
Kairat Almaty
Cyprus – 1
Pafos
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.