Which countries are set to win extra Champions League places?

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Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

England and Germany are currently in line to win the two extra Champions League places on offer for next season's competition.

Uefa has handed an extra qualifying place to each of the two best-performing nations in the previous season since the start of the 2024-25 season when the Champions League's expanded to 36 teams.

Using Uefa's association rankings - in which points are earned by winning and drawing matches in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League - the two nations with the highest points get given a direct qualification each for the following season's Champions League.

Throughout the season, teams earn two points for every win and one for a draw across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. There are also bonus points on offer for every round reached across the three competitions, although more points are given to teams competing in the Champions League than in the other competitions.

In the qualification rounds, these points are halved.

Points earned are then divided by how many teams from that country entered European competitions at the start of the season.

In the 2025-26 season, England have nine teams competing in Europe. That means all points are divided by nine.

For this season, England and Spain were given one extra spot each as they were the two best-performing nations across the 2024-25 campaign. That meant entry to the Champions League was given to Newcastle and Athletic Club.

For the 2024-25 season, Italy and Germany were given the two places, known as European Performances Spots (EPS). Bologna and Borussia Dortmund were the teams granted entry.

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What does the current table look like?

Neco Williams with his fist in the airGetty Images

Nottingham Forest reached the last-16 of the Europa League, despite a second leg defeat to Fenerbahce at the City Ground

England remain the only nation in the race for an extra Champions League spot with all of their clubs still in Europe following Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace's victories in the Europa League and Conference League respectively.

Germany remain in second place, while Spain closed the gap after Celta Vigo advanced in the Europa League.

Italy also closed in on the top two following Bologna's win over Brann, while Portugal did not add to their points total with no clubs in action.

Poland climbed one place up to sixth, above Francem following victories for Lech Poznan and Jagiellonia Bialystok, despite the latter being eliminated.

Greece, Cyprus and Denmark all remain in the top 10 unmoved, despite Greece and Cyprus both losing a club each.

Current top 10 in race for 2026-27 EPS spots:

  1. England 22.291 (9/9 clubs remaining)

  2. Germany 17.571 (5/7 clubs remaining)

  3. Spain 17.406 (6/8 clubs remaining)

  4. Italy 17.357 (4/7 clubs remaining)

  5. Portugal 16.600 (3/5 clubs remaining)

  6. Poland 15.250 (2/4 clubs remaining)

  7. France 14.964 (4/7 clubs remaining)

  8. Greece 12.900 (2/5 clubs remaining)

  9. Cyprus 11.906 (1/4 clubs remaining)

  10. Denmark 11.750 (1/4 clubs remaining)

Thanks to Nige in Morpeth for the question.

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

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