If a team from the bottom of the English Premier League (EPL) were to win the Emirates FA Cup, they would qualify for the Europa League ahead of the team that finished 7th in the league standings due to the unique qualification rules of both competitions.
Here’s a breakdown with examples, including Manchester United’s recent FA Cup win:
FA Cup Winners Qualify for Europa League: The winner of the FA Cup earns an automatic qualification to the UEFA Europa League, regardless of their league position.
This means that even if a team finishes at the bottom of the Premier League, their victory in the FA Cup secures them a place in European competition.
For example, Manchester United won the FA Cup in the 2015-2016 season and finished fifth in the Premier League in that season, their FA Cup triumph allowed them to participate in the following season’s Europa League.
7th Place in Premier League: Traditionally, the top six teams in the Premier League qualify for European competitions (Champions League or Europa League). However, if the FA Cup winner has already secured a European place via their league position, the Europa League spot from the FA Cup goes to the next highest-ranked team in the Premier League that has not already qualified for Europe.
For instance, Manchester United finished 7th in the Premier League in the just concluded 2023/2024 season but won the FA Cup. And the top six teams already qualified for European competitions based on their league positions, Manchester United’s FA Cup victory secured them a spot in the Europa League.
Priority of Qualification Routes: UEFA regulations prioritize teams qualifying for European competitions based on their league positions.
However, the FA Cup winner’s automatic qualification to the Europa League takes precedence over league position.
Example: If a team like Watford finished at the bottom of the Premier League, were to win the FA Cup, they would qualify for the Europa League, even if it means bypassing a team like Arsenal, which finished 7t in the league but did not secure European qualification through their league position.
In summary, the unique qualification rules of the FA Cup prioritize the cup winner’s entry into the Europa League, irrespective of their league position.
This ensures that winning the FA Cup remains a prestigious achievement and provides smaller teams with an opportunity to compete in European competitions.
