With the advent of the new UEFA competition format introduced eighteen months ago, Ligue 1 now benefits from an expanded contingent. Normally, seven European tickets are distributed. The top three teams in the league go directly to the Champions League group stage, while the fourth must overcome the hurdles of a preliminary round and a playoff. In case of failure, they drop to the Europa League. Behind them, the fifth-place team in Ligue 1 goes to the Europa Conference League, while sixth place earns a spot in the Conference League playoffs.
The crazy scenario for an eighth qualifying club
The calculation is simple: the winner of the Coupe de France earns a ticket to the Europa League group stage. If this club finishes in the top six of the league, it keeps the spot for the Europa Conference League, allowing the 7th place team in Ligue 1 to qualify for Europe. This position would then offer access to the Conference League playoffs. Even more remarkably, an eighth French club could technically secure its spot in Europe.
A specific condition must be met: the future winner of the Coupe de France would need to finish in the top 6 and, at the same time, Strasbourg would have to win the Conference League while finishing in 7th place in the league. Thanks to their potential European triumph, the Alsace club would move directly to the Europa League group stage, thereby freeing up their qualifying spot obtained through the league. In this specific scenario, the ticket to the Conference League playoffs would slide one more notch: 8th place in Ligue 1 would officially become European.
To summarize
Eight Ligue 1 clubs in Europe? It’s possible! If the Coupe de France winner finishes in the top 6 and Strasbourg wins the Conference League while being 7th, the 8th place team in the league would then become European.
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