English football is dominating Europe and the numbers prove it.
The Premier League’s fifth Champions League spot has been confirmed for next season after Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Sporting CP on Tuesday sealed UEFA’s European Performance Spot for England for the second year running.
What Is the European Performance Spot?
UEFA awards an additional Champions League place to the two leagues with the best overall performance across the Europa League, Champions League, and Conference League.
The Premier League has led that table for most of the 2025-26 season, with all nine English clubs reaching the last 16 of their competitions.
Spain is set to claim second place, though Bayern Munich’s win at Real Madrid keeps Germany in contention.
The Race for Fifth — Seven Teams in Seven Points
Liverpool currently sit fifth on 49 points, but the battle below them is intense. Just seven points separate them from 13th-placed Bournemouth.
Chelsea, Brentford, Everton, Fulham, Brighton, Sunderland, Newcastle, and Bournemouth are all in the mix. Whoever finishes fifth is now guaranteed Champions League football next season.
Could the Premier League Get Six Teams In?
The maths gets more interesting the deeper English clubs go. If Aston Villa or Liverpool win a European trophy and finish outside the top four, a sixth club would qualify.
If Nottingham Forest win the Europa League mirroring Tottenham’s achievement last season, the same logic applies, potentially pushing a seventh-place finish into European football’s premier competition.