For the first time ever, a single domestic league will feature six clubs in one edition of the UEFA Champions League. The Premier League is set to achieve this historic milestone in the 2025–26 season, thanks to the new tournament format and the outstanding performances of English teams in European competitions.

With this achievement, the Premier League breaks its own previous record of five representatives, set during the 2017–18 campaign, further cementing its status as the most dominant league in Europe.

How Did This Unprecedented Feat Happen?

The presence of six English teams in the Champions League is not a coincidence—it’s the result of multiple converging factors:

• Direct league qualification : The top four finishers in the Premier League automatically qualify. This season, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Newcastle United secured those spots.
• UEFA coefficient extra spot : The Premier League was one of the two top-performing leagues in Europe during the 2024–25 season, which granted an additional berth to the fifth-placed team, Chelsea.
• Europa League champion : The 2025 UEFA Europa League Final will feature Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, neither of whom finished in the top five in the Premier League. The winner will secure the sixth Champions League spot.

This unique scenario is made possible by the new Champions League format, which debuts in 2025–26 and features a single league phase, more teams, and expanded access criteria.

England’s Representatives in the 2025–26 Champions League

These are the six Premier League clubs that will participate in the upcoming Champions League:

• Liverpool (Premier League champions)
• Arsenal (runners-up)
• Manchester City (third place)
• Newcastle United (fourth place)
• Chelsea (fifth place, UEFA coefficient berth)
• Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur (Europa League winner)

Under the new league-phase format, all qualified teams will play a minimum of eight matches before the knockout rounds.