How the Bundesliga could have nine teams in Europe in 2026/27
Bayern Munich have already secured their place in the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League, but up to eight more Bundesliga clubs could still join them in continental competition next season. And it’s Freiburg’s results at home and abroad that will determine if nine German clubs play in Europe this coming campaign. Let’s explain…
How does European qualification work in the Bundesliga?
When a Bundesliga season starts, the distribution of European qualification places is as follows:
- Champions League (league phase): 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
- Europa League (league phase): 5th, DFB Cup winner
- Conference League (qualification play-off): 6th
However, that can and often does change over the course of the season.
For example, should the DFB Cup winners already qualify for the Champions League or Europa League via the Bundesliga, that extra Europa League berth reverts to the league.
The ‘European Performance Spots’ introduced with the revamp of UEFA’s competitions also mean two countries earn an extra Champions League qualifier each year.
Get more on the race for a fifth Champions League spot here
In addition, the winners of the Champions League and Europa League qualify automatically for the following season’s Champions League. If they haven’t already done so via their domestic league, that brings an additional qualifier too.
What does that all mean for 2026?
Bayern earned their place in the Champions League back on Matchday 28. They are also through to the semi-finals of the DFB Cup and Champions League. At least three teams will join them in next season’s league phase.
Given the European exploits of Vincent Kompany’s men and Freiburg, who are through to the last four of the Europa League for the first time ever, Germany has an excellent chance of claiming a European Performance Spot. England already has one, meaning the other is now between Germany and Spain.
That would mean fifth place, currently Bayer Leverkusen, qualifies for the Champions League’s league phase.
Now, assuming the Bundesliga claims that right, should Freiburg – who are almost guaranteed to miss out on a top-five finish – go all the way in the Europa League and claim the first major silverware in their history, they would also compete in the Champions League for the first time ever, meaning six Bundesliga clubs at Europe’s top table.
So, we all want Freiburg to do well. But here’s the catch: to have nine teams in continental competition next season, Freiburg’s domestic campaign would need to falter in the closing weeks.
That is because, if Freiburg win the Europa League AND the DFB Cup, the Europa League berth gained from the latter is then not given to the Bundesliga but redistributed elsewhere to another country. Only the first position below the Champions League places would enter the competition.
Bayern, Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart are the other cup semi-finalists and all inside the top five as things stand.
Therefore, Julian Schuster’s side would have to win the Europa League, not win the DFB Cup and also finish outside the Bundesliga’s top seven. They are currently eighth, which would be outside of a league qualification position – before European Performance Spots are applied – and allow another team to claim a European berth. As things stand going into Matchday 30, Mainz would be the beneficiary in ninth.
Given that scenario, qualification would look like this:
- Champions League (league phase): 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th (EPS), Freiburg (Europa League winners)
- Europa League (league phase): 6th, 7th (because the DFB Cup winner is already in top five)
- Conference League (qualification play-off): Next available Bundesliga spot (likely 9th, below Freiburg)
So, come on Freiburg! But maybe don’t do too well…
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