England set to clinch fifth Champions League spot for second year running through UEFA coefficient table
England is in a commanding position to secure a fifth Champions League place for the 2026/27 campaign by finishing in the top two of this season's UEFA's coefficient table.
England sits comfortably on top following the conclusion of the league phase of the Champions League on Wednesday, with Germany just ahead of Spain in second.
UEFA's coefficient table measures how each country's clubs perform across the three European competitions.
The top two at the end of the campaign are awarded extra Champions League places, known as European Performance Spots.
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England secured one of the spots last season, along with Spain.
Newcastle were the Premier League club to benefit as their fifth-placed finish took them into this season's Champions League.
Here is why a repeat now looks likely for 2026/27.
How does the coefficient table work?
Each nation is awarded points based on the performance of their clubs in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
Their points totals are then divided by the number of clubs they have competing in European competition, with nations ranked in the table by their average scores.
Wins are worth two coefficient points, draws are worth one, and defeats are worth none.
Additionally, bonus points are awarded according to finishing positions in the league phase tables, and progress through each knockout round.
The bonus points are far higher in the Champions League compared to the other two competitions.
The team finishing top of the Champions League phase table earns 12 bonus points, compared to six for the team finishing top of the Europa League league phase table, and four for the team finishing top of the Conference League league phase table.
The weight given to the Champions League over the Europa League and Conference League helps to explain why the top European leagues typically get the extra places, given they have more clubs competing in Europe's elite competition.
It also helps to explain why England is in such a strong position this season, with five of its six teams having finished in the top eight places of the Champions League league phase table.
Coefficient table as it stands
Having accrued 72.50 bonus points for its clubs' Champions League league phase finishing positions, England has strengthened its standing at the top of the coefficient table, with an average score roughly 30 per cent higher than Germany in second.
Germany are effectively 17 wins behind England, with Italy and Spain 20 wins behind.
England is the only nation with all of its teams still active ahead of the final round league phase fixtures in the Europa League and Conference League on Thursday night.
The number of clubs still competing is a plus point for England, although other leagues could actually benefit from having extra games in the knockout round play-offs, given they provide additional opportunities for nations to accrue coefficient points.
With so much European football still to come this season, England are not yet mathematically assured of a top-two finish in the coefficient table. Their place in last season's top two was not confirmed until April.
However, Opta believe it's already a done deal.
Their expected points model gives England a 100 per cent chance of achieving a top-two finish, with Germany on 40.9 per cent, Portugal on 26.1 per cent, Italy on 23.5 per cent and Spain on 8.1 per cent.
Which Premier League club could profit?
A potential extra Champions League spot is good news for a string of clubs given only five points currently separate Manchester United in fourth, on 38 points, and Sunderland in 11th, on 33 points.
As it stands, Chelsea sit fifth, on 37 points, just ahead of Liverpool on 36 points.
According to Opta, the current top three, Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa, have 100 per cent, 99 per cent and 98.9 per cent chances of finishing in the top five respectively.
Chelsea are given a 64 per cent chance, with Liverpool on 57.6 per cent and Manchester United on 44.9 per cent, despite currently sitting ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool in the table.
Newcastle, last season's fifth-placed finishers, are deemed next-likely, but their probability of a top-five finish is rated by Opta at just 11.7 per cent, ahead of Fulham, who rank as the most likely of the other contenders on 5.9 per cent.
