How UEFA's EPS system lets top clubs qualify for Europe based on their individual club coefficient — even without a top domestic league finish. Updated for 2025/26.
European Performance Spots (EPS) are additional places in UEFA club competitions awarded based on a club's individual club coefficient, independent of the number of spots their country receives through the country coefficient ranking.
Introduced as part of the 2024/25 UEFA competition reforms — the same overhaul that brought the 36-team league phase format — EPS ensures that Europe's strongest clubs by historical track record are represented in continental competition, even if they have a disappointing domestic season.
In practice, this means up to 2 additional Champions League spots and 1 additional Europa League spot are available each season on top of the regular country-based allocations.
Awarded to the 2 highest-ranked clubs (by club coefficient) that did not qualify through their league
Awarded to the next highest-ranked club that did not qualify for CL or EL through their league
Total: Up to 3 additional European spots per season (2 CL + 1 EL). These are on top of the regular country-based allocations. The Conference League does not have performance spots.
At the end of each season, UEFA reviews the club coefficient rankings to determine which clubs are eligible for a performance spot. The process works as follows:
Identify unqualified clubs
UEFA looks at all clubs that did NOT qualify for any European competition through their domestic league finish or cup win.
Rank by club coefficient
Among those unqualified clubs, UEFA ranks them by their individual club coefficient — the 5-year rolling score based on each club's own European results.
Award the spots
The 2 highest-ranked unqualified clubs receive Champions League places. The next highest-ranked unqualified club (who didn't get a CL spot) receives a Europa League place.
Enter via qualifying
EPS recipients enter via a playoff round, not directly into the league phase. They must still win their way through a two-legged tie to reach the main competition.
Any club from any of UEFA's 55 member associations is theoretically eligible, provided they meet these criteria:
Must have a high club coefficient
The club needs to be among the highest-ranked in the UEFA club coefficient standings. In practice, this means clubs with strong recent European track records.
Must NOT have already qualified
If the club already qualified through their domestic league, cup, or as a title holder, they are not eligible for EPS. The spots only go to clubs that would otherwise miss out.
Any country, any league
There is no restriction on which country the club comes from. A club from a lower-ranked association with a strong coefficient can receive an EPS.
Must have a domestic league licence
The club must hold a valid UEFA licence and be eligible to compete in European competition under standard regulations.
Typical scenario: A traditional European power — think a club that regularly competes in the Champions League — finishes 5th, 6th, or 7th in a competitive domestic league. If their club coefficient is high enough, they receive a performance spot and still get to compete in Europe.
The EPS system was introduced alongside the broader 2024 competition reforms as a way to balance two competing goals:
It is important to understand the distinction between the two systems that run in parallel:
| Country-Based Spots | Performance Spots (EPS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Based on | Country coefficient (5-year rolling average of all clubs) | Individual club coefficient (5-year rolling score of that specific club) |
| Determined by | Domestic league finish (champion, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) | Club coefficient rank among unqualified clubs |
| Number of spots | Varies by country rank (1-7 teams per country) | Fixed: 2 CL + 1 EL = 3 total |
| Entry stage | Varies by country rank (league phase to Q1) | Playoff round |
Explore more about UEFA coefficients and European qualification.