Ups, downs and the race for Europe

Ups, downs and the race for EuropeImage source, ReutersImage caption, Coventry were promoted to the Premier League with three games to spareByMark MitchenerBBC Sport senior journalistPublished22 February 2026Updated 7 hours agoBBC Sport outlines the promotion and relegation issues - and the race for European qualification - in England and Scotland for 2025-26.Recent confirmed promotions, relegations, titles & qualifications25 April - Oxford United relegated to League One25 April - MIlton Keynes Dons promoted to League One25 April - York City promoted to League Two25 April - AFC Fylde and Worthing promoted to National League25 April - Kelty Hearts relegated to Scottish League Two22 April - Burnley relegated to Championship22 April - Port Vale relegated to League TwoPremier LeagueImage source, ReutersImage caption, Burnley were condemned to an immediate return to the Championship with four Premier League games remainingThe top five teams are guaranteed qualification for the league phase of the Champions League, with four regular places boosted by England being one of the two associations with the highest coefficient for 2025-26 to earn one of the European Performance Spots (EPS), as confirmed on 7 April.Arsenal and Manchester City cannot finish lower than fifth, so have confirmed their Champions League spots. Should Arsenal win this season's Champions League, that would not earn an extra Champions League berth for English teams.However, there is a place in the league phase of the Champions League reserved for the Europa League winners - which could be Aston Villa or Nottingham Forest.Should Villa win the Europa League and finish fourth, nothing would change. If they win it and finish fifth, they would enter the Champions League, as would the sixth-placed team via the EPS - but England would forfeit a Europa League place. If Villa win the Europa League and finish sixth, the Conference League place is forfeited.Ordinarily, the sixth-placed Premier League team w...