Premier League in line for five Champions League places after Uefa reforms

The Premier League can soon expect to have five teams in the Champions League after Uefa confirmed changes to the format of its competitions after a year of intense debate.

Thirty-six teams will take part in a reformed Champions League from 2024 and play eight guaranteed matches in a ‘Swiss league’ system. This is down from a proposed 10 matches, part of a crucial compromise in Vienna that also saw movement in how two places will be awarded.

Controversial plans to allow teams to enter the Champions League based on historical performance in Europe have been abandoned. Instead, a place will be given to each of the two countries whose clubs collectively performed best in Europe the previous year and will be awarded on league position. If the rules were applied this season, the extra spots would go to clubs from England and the Netherlands. In four of the past five seasons – and six of the past 10 – England would have got one of the places.

The financial dominance of the Premier League means this outcome would continue to be likely. One Uefa official said it would be as likely as “a meteorite hitting this room”, and it is possible England could have seven clubs in Europe’s premier competition, with the winners of the Champions League and Europa League getting a place in the following season’s competition too if they have not qualified through league position.

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