Man United could miss the next season’s Champions League even if they win the Europa League, unless the club takes a major step before the final
Manchester United’s hopes of playing in next season’s UEFA Champions League remain uncertain, even if they go on to win the Europa League. While lifting the Europa League trophy typically guarantees automatic qualification for the Champions League, the club’s current ownership complications mean things aren’t so straightforward.
According to UEFA rules, winning the Europa League secures a spot in the Champions League group stage. This rule remains valid for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 campaigns. Given Manchester United’s disappointing position in the Premier League table this season, the Europa League represents their only real chance to return to Europe’s top-tier competition. However, the involvement of INEOS, which now controls Manchester United’s football operations and also owns a significant share of French club OGC Nice, presents a serious hurdle. UEFA does not allow two clubs with shared ownership to compete in the same European tournament to prevent conflicts of interest.
This means Manchester United’s Champions League qualification would need UEFA’s explicit approval, particularly if OGC Nice also secures a spot in the competition through their domestic performance. If Nice clinches Champions League qualification via Ligue 1, UEFA may be forced to choose between the two clubs. Without a clear separation of ownership or operational control, United could be denied entry even after winning the Europa League.
The Champions League is set to undergo a format change in 2025/26, expanding to 36 teams in a league-style phase. Despite this expansion, the rules still guarantee places only to domestic league qualifiers and the winners of the Champions League and Europa League. If the Europa League winner already qualifies via their league, the extra slot is distributed based on UEFA rankings. But this safety net won’t apply to United, as their poor domestic performance has already ruled out league-based qualification.
In essence, Manchester United’s fate lies not just in their on-pitch performance but in their ability to satisfy UEFA’s ownership regulations. Without decisive action to clarify or adjust their ownership structure ahead of the Europa League final, they risk winning a prestigious European title only to be blocked from competing at the highest level due to administrative and regulatory complications.
