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Newcastle United secured their first silverware of the 2024/25 season with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the EFL Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.
While the triumph was a historic moment for the club, it also has significant implications for European qualification.
The EFL Cup winners are typically granted a place in the UEFA Conference League playoff stage.
However, Newcastle’s league position could alter the allocation of European spots.
If Eddie Howe’s side finishes in a position that qualifies them for the Champions League or Europa League, their Conference League spot will be passed down to the next highest-ranked Premier League team that has not already qualified for Europe.
How European Qualification Works
The Premier League’s European slots are distributed as follows:
UEFA Champions League: The top four teams qualify automatically. A fifth-place team may also qualify depending on England’s overall performance in European competitions.
UEFA Europa League: The fifth-placed team (or sixth, if the top five qualify for the Champions League) earns a Europa League place. The winners of the FA Cup also qualify for the Europa League.
UEFA Conference League: The EFL Cup winners secure a place in the Conference League playoff stage.
However, if the FA Cup or EFL Cup winners qualify for a higher European competition through the league, their allocated spot is passed to the next-highest-ranked team not already in Europe.
Newcastle’s position and possible outcomes
As things stand, Newcastle sit sixth in the Premier League table with 47 points from 28 matches.
Their focus will be on securing a Champions League or Europa League spot through their league performance.
If they finish in the top five, their Conference League spot would be reassigned. This could have a major impact, as the extra European slot could potentially go as low as the 11th-placed team.
A hypothetical scenario that could lead to this includes:
Liverpool, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and Manchester City qualify for the Champions League.
Newcastle qualify for the Champions League by finishing fifth, benefiting from an additional English slot in the competition.
Brighton & Hove Albion finish sixth and earn a Europa League place.
AFC Bournemouth qualify for the Europa League by winning the FA Cup.
Chelsea claim a Europa League spot by winning the UEFA Conference League.
Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League.
Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur finish 10th and qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League.
In this scenario, all teams in the top 10 would have already secured a European competition. As a result, Newcastle’s Conference League spot would be handed to the 11th-placed team in the Premier League standings.
