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TEN Premier League clubs can still qualify for Europe after Aston Villa and Crystal Palace wins
Apr 17 2026 09:11 · By Matthew Abbott/Sports Writer · 30 Reads
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The Premier League could have as many as ten clubs in Europe next season as Aston Villa , Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest all reached the semi-finals of their respective UEFA competitions. Forest and Villa will play each other in the Europa League final four, while Palace face Shakhtar Donetsk for a place in the Conference League final.
A maximum of 11 clubs can make it in any given season. However, Liverpool's loss to Paris Saint-Germain reduces that to 10.
Arsenal already have a spot in the Champions League secured. Manchester City , meanwhile, are assured of being in Europe once again.
At least another six sides will join them, three of which will play in the Champions League by finishing in the top five. Finishing sixth currently qualifies a team for the Europa League, with a Conference League spot for the side in seventh.
Winning the FA Cup also comes with a place in the Europa League, so Leeds United , Southampton , or even Chelsea could all qualify for Europe through that route.
However, if Man City lift the trophy, or Chelsea do so and finish in the top seven, then sixth and seventh qualify for the Europa League, and eighth becomes the Conference League spot.
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Forest, Palace or Villa winning the UEFA competitions they are playing in is where the other additional spots come in. Success in the Europa League comes with Champions League qualification.
A ninth club could qualify if Forest win it all or Villa do so, as long as they also finish outside of the top six. Either scenario would mirror what happened last season with Tottenham Hotspur.
Similarly, winning the Conference League qualifies a club for the Europa League. Palace winning their first European trophy would also add a ninth berth, too, although they can still mathematically qualify through the league.
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
A combination of Forest or Villa and Palace winning the UEFA competition they are in is how the Premier League can have 10 teams in Europe next season. However, the winners must finish outside the top six.
The chances of Europa League success are boosted by a Premier League club already guaranteed a place in the final in Istanbul. One of Forest or Villa will play Braga or Freiburg in the Turkish capital four days before the final day of the Premier League season.
As for Palace, either Rayo Vallecano or Strasbourg awaits in the final if they overcome Shakhtar. Leipzig hosts the Conference League final three days after the Premier League's last day.