Why The FA Cup Final Is Important For European Qualification
What The FA Cup Final Means For European Qualification
This Premier League season, we have been gifted with an incredible Champions League qualification race which looks like it will not be decided until the conclusion of the final matches. Because of that, we are left pondering which teams might make it into European competitions as only Liverpool know what competition they will be playing in next season.
This weekend’s FA Cup Final also has a lot on the line for both teams competing and can completely change which teams enter Europe for the 25/26 campaign. In this piece, we will outline all of the different scenarios and how which results can impact teams playing in Europe next season.
How Proceedings Currently Stand
Thanks to English teams performing well in Europe this season, the Premier League has earned an additional fifth spot for the Champions League next season. We have also been gifted with six teams fighting for the final four Champions League places, in what may be the tightest Champions League race in Premier League history. On top of this, despite poor league form, Tottenham and Manchester United will play in the Europa League final, which also has a lot on the line, with the winner joining the top five in playing in the Champions League next season, making it six teams in Europe’s best competition.
🚨 🏴 Race is wide open in England!
— Football Rankings (@FootRankings) May 5, 2025
🏆 If Man City win the FA Cup:
📈 6th place - Europa League
📈 7th place - Europa League
⭕️ 8th place - Conference League
🏆 If Crystal Palace win the FA Cup:
📈 6th place - Europa League
⭕️ 7th place - Conference League pic.twitter.com/k4vYAkQzVM
This means, as it stands, the two sides who miss out on the top five- currently Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, would earn themselves Europa League qualification. This leaves one more European spot- the Conference League. Here, any team from eighth to 11th can still mathematically qualify. However, although this already sounds complicated, the FA Cup Final makes things even more difficult to understand as it throws even more permutations into the mix. Depending on who wins between Crystal Palace and Manchester City this Saturday, it could have major implications in determining who plays in what European competition.
Villains Or Heroes?
We shall start off with the one which may be easier to take in. If Pep Guardiola’s side were to win under the arch, it would put a silver lining on their season. It would mean they would not go trophy-less for a start. It would also activate finishing eighth resulting in European qualification, since it is not yet set in stone.
The Citizens have had a relatively comfortable path to Saturday’s final, avoiding the powerhouses, playing against Salford, Leyton Orient, Plymouth, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest.
Since Man City look likely to qualify for the Champions League or Europa League, it would mean their FA Cup-won Europa League spot would be passed down to the side who finished in eighth place. So, for once, City winning the trophy would not make them villains to everyone, but heroes to Brentford, Brighton, Bournemouth, and Fulham.
We hope this was not too confusing because we are about to add yet another implication to the list now.
Will The Eagles Fly Up Into The Europa League?
If Crystal Palace are the victors at Wembley, it would not only add them to the list of underdogs to have won the trophy, it would not only end their 31-year trophy drought, but it would also earn them a place in Europe’s second tier competition for next season. This will be their third appearance in the final, although they have never won it.
It’s the season of ending trophy droughts… 👀
— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) May 15, 2025
70 years - Newcastle
31 years - Harry Kane
93 years - Go Ahead Eagles
51 years - Bologna
-
31 years - Crystal Palace ⏳
17 years - Tottenham ⏳ pic.twitter.com/yHgaAeEOPG
Oliver Glasner’s Eagles have also not had the most difficult journey to North London either, however the way they dismantled both Fulham and Aston Villa 3-0 in the past two rounds makes them a real threat to Man City on Saturday. Palace also defeated Stockport, Doncaster, and Millwall before that and they hold the best defensive record in the competition this season, conceding just once at an average of 0.2 goals against per match.
A victory at Wembley would earn them a place in the Europa League and therefore take away the spot in Europe for Premier League’s eighth best team, instead, giving the Conference League spot to the team who finishes in seventh.
Crystal Palace have reached the FA Cup final for just the third time in their history.
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 26, 2025
◎ 1990 (🥈)
◎ 2016 (🥈)
◉ 2025 🆕
At least they won’t face Manchester United this time. 😅 pic.twitter.com/tKzYUgz1lu
With next season’s destinations on the line, this final has the potential to be one of the best we have seen in years, with the last time these sides met, it was a seven-goal thriller so neutral fans will be hoping for a similar amount.
Check out our predictions page below if you want to know what Football Park believe will happen on Saturday afternoon, when kickoff at Wembley Stadium is at 16:30pm BST.
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