Why the Premier League will have six teams in Champions League next season as Tottenham qualify after beating Manchester United in Europa League final
Published 28/05/2025 at 14:04 GMT+1
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Six Premier League sides will be involved in next season’s UEFA Champions League after Tottenham and Manchester United reached the UEFA Europa League final. Spurs came out on top in the final, beating The Red Devils 1-0 to win their first major trophy since their 2008 League Cup triumph over Chelsea. However, some fans may be wondering why so many English teams will be involved next term.
Highlights: Postecoglou delivers as Spurs beat Man Utd to end trophy drought
Video credit: TNT Sports
Six Premier League sides have qualified for next season’s UEFA Champions League and some football fans may be wondering why.
Manchester United beat Athletic Club 7-1 on aggregate to qualify for the UEFA Europa League final.
Ruben Amorim’s men took on Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who beat Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt 5-1 on aggregate to progress.
Spurs defeated The Red Devils 1-0 live on TNT Sports and discovery+ to win their first major trophy since their 2008 League Cup.
In doing so, they joined Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle and Chelsea in next season's UEFA Champions League.
Here is why there are six English sides in next season's competition.
Can you qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League?
Yes!
The Premier League traditionally sees four of its teams qualify for the following season’s Champions League.
However, in 2014, UEFA adjusted its competition rules to grant the Europa League winner automatic qualification for the following campaign’s Champions League.
An all-English Europa League final meant that the Premier League was guarenteed an extra side in next season’s Champions League.
Spurs came out on top in the crucial fixture despite finishing 17th in the Premier League table and can now look ahead to a European tour next season.
What do people think of this rule?
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is now FIFA's head of global football development, believes that the rule is something UEFA will have "to think about and to review".
Speaking on beIN Sports ahead of the UEFA Europa League final, Wenger said: "No - they should qualify automatically for the Europa League again, but not necessarily for the Champions League. I think it's something [for UEFA] to think about and to review.
"On the other hand, people will tell you that to keep the Europa League focused, interesting and motivated, you need to give them that prize [of qualifying for the Champions League]."
Why is there a sixth Champions League spot?
UEFA awards the two leagues with the best set of collective results in European competition with an extra Champions League spot.
Arsenal’s 3-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid in April confirmed that the Premier League would get one of these spots.
That extra place goes to the team that finishes fifth in the Premier League.
Five qualification spots became six when Tottenham and Manchester United set up their showdown in Bilbao.
That guaranteed an English winner of the Europa League and - therefore - ensured an additional place in Europe's premier competition next season.
Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+
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