Which countries are set to win extra Champions League places?

 

Cyprus and Denmark are in line to gain extra Champions League places for next season under UEFA’s new system. Since the competition expanded from 32 to 36 clubs in 2024, UEFA has awarded two additional qualifying spots each year to the best-performing nations in European competition.

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Performance is tracked through the association rankings, where countries collect points based on how their clubs fare in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. Victories count for two points, draws for one, and there are extra bonuses for advancing through the rounds. Importantly, Champions League achievements bring greater rewards than those in the other competitions.

Points earned are averaged by dividing them across the number of clubs from that nation that started the season in Europe. This ensures that countries with fewer representatives can still compete with larger nations if their teams perform strongly. So far, Cyprus and Denmark are ahead in this race, meaning they would each secure a direct qualification slot for the 2026 edition of the Champions League.

The European Performance Spots (EPS) system has already had a major impact in its first seasons. For the 2024-25 campaign, Italy and Germany benefited as their clubs collectively performed the best across Europe, handing Champions League places to Bologna and Borussia Dortmund. For 2025-26, the rewards went to England and Spain, with Newcastle and Athletic Club given direct entry to the group stage.

This season, Cyprus and Denmark are surprising the bigger leagues by sitting on top of the performance rankings. Both nations have fewer teams in European competition compared to giants like England, Spain, or Germany, but their clubs’ strong performances mean that their points-per-team average is higher.

For example, while England began the campaign with nine clubs in Europe, any points gained are divided by nine, which lowers the overall average. Smaller nations like Cyprus and Denmark, with fewer representatives, can climb the rankings if their clubs progress deep into the tournaments.

If their current trajectory continues, both nations will secure a rare opportunity to place an extra team directly into next season’s Champions League group stage.

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