Top football leagues in Europe traditionally send up to four teams to the UEFA Champions League each year. However, starting this season, the format expanded to accommodate 36 teams, granting two leagues the chance to send five teams to the prestigious tournament.
This update to qualification rules aligns with club performances across UEFA competitions, including the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. The English Premier League, long regarded as one of the strongest leagues globally, has seized this opportunity with extraordinary results from its teams in continental tournaments.
Adding to this achievement, Manchester United (ranked 15th) and Tottenham Hotspur (ranked 16th) have successfully earned their spots in the Europa League final. Should either team clinch the Europa League title, they will automatically qualify for next season’s Champions League, boosting the league's total number of participating teams to six—a groundbreaking accomplishment in football history.
This milestone signifies the first instance where any domestic league has fielded a total of six teams in the UEFA Champions League. The English Premier League last approached such a feat in 2019 when it sent four teams from league standings and Manchester United through Europa League victory.
Serie A also achieved a notable record this season, sending five teams to the Champions League, demonstrating the competitiveness among European leagues in UEFA's top-tier tournament.
Currently, the Premier League's top five teams—Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Chelsea—have secured their spots for next season. Their consistent dominance has been pivotal in maintaining the league’s status as a powerhouse on the global stage.
The triumphs of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in reaching the Europa League final have paved the way for this historic achievement, solidifying the English Premier League's reputation as Europe's most competitive football league.