Spain have secured a fifth appearance in the Champions League next season, UEFA confirmed on Friday, with Real Betis on course to clinch the spot via the La Liga standings.
Rayo Vallecano’s victory against Strasbourg in the Conference League semi-finals on Thursday gave Spain an insurmountable lead over Germany in the race for an additional Champions League place.
Since the Champions League was revamped to a 36-team format in 2024, UEFA has awarded bonus entries to the two countries whose teams achieved the best combined record in the previous season’s three European competitions.
Standing leaders England had already secured the first bonus entry for next season’s Champions League, which is worth tens of millions of euros in prize money to the club.
Spain and Germany were involved in an exciting race for second place.
Real Betis are fifth in La Liga with four rounds to go and six points ahead of Celta Vigo in sixth place.
Twenty years ago, Betis only played one season in the Champions League and did not progress beyond the group stage behind Liverpool and Chelsea.
The bonus entries for the Champions League for the 2024-2025 season went to Borussia Dortmund of Germany and Bologna of Italy. This campaign it was Newcastle and Villarreal.
Just like this season, England could have a record number of six participations in the next Champions League.
The winner of the Europa League will gain direct access to the next Champions League and Aston Villa will play the final against Freiburg in Istanbul on May 20.
Villa is fifth in the Premier League with three rounds to go. If coach Unai Emery’s team finishes fifth and wins the Europa League, the team in sixth place in the Premier League will receive the UEFA bonus. Bournemouth are currently sixth and would be debutants in Europe.
Last season, Tottenham won the Europa League and participated in the Champions League, despite finishing seventeenth in the Premier League.
England and Spain will also take part in the Conference League final. Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano will play for the third title on May 27 in Leipzig, Germany.
The winner will receive direct access to the Europa League next season.
Published on May 8, 2026
