How a team qualifies for the Champions League and the Copa Libertadores
August 23, 2026 · 7 min
In the final rounds of every league, two things are at stake: the title and the places in continental competitions. The battle to "get into the Champions League" or "qualify for the Libertadores" is sometimes more thrilling than the title race itself. But how exactly do you earn that ticket? We explain it for the two biggest club competitions in the world.
The Champions League: places by league
The UEFA Champions League brings together Europe's best clubs, and the number of places each country receives depends on its ranking (the UEFA coefficient, which measures how its teams have performed in recent years). The big leagues, England, Spain, Italy and Germany, usually get four or more direct places.
In practice, finishing near the top of your league gets you in. In the top leagues, finishing between first and fourth usually means direct Champions League qualification; fifth or sixth means the Europa League. That's why every position at the top of the table is worth millions of euros.
Qualifying rounds: not everyone goes straight in
Not every qualified team goes straight into the group stage. Champions of smaller leagues and some teams that finished in play-off spots have to get through knockout qualifying rounds over the summer. Winning them earns access to the main tournament; losing them usually means dropping into the Europa League.
This system keeps the dream alive for clubs from smaller countries: the champion of a minor league can, by winning its qualifying ties, end up taking on the giants of the continent.
The Copa Libertadores: the South American model
In South America, the Conmebol Libertadores shares out its places among the leagues of its ten member countries. Brazil and Argentina, given their weight, contribute more teams. Qualification comes through league position, winning domestic cups and, in some countries, through Apertura and Clausura tournaments.
Unlike in Europe, many South American countries split their season into two short tournaments a year, and each one can award places. That makes the race for the Libertadores almost permanent: there's always something at stake.
Why getting in matters so much
Qualifying for a continental competition isn't just about prestige: it means money, it helps attract and keep players, and it's the shop window a club needs to grow. A strong run in the Champions League or the Libertadores can transform a club's finances for years.
So when you follow the final rounds of a league, don't just look at who wins the title. The fight for fourth place, for that last continental ticket, often hides the tensest battles of the entire season.
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