Ups, downs and the race for Europe

BBC Sport outlines the promotion and relegation issues - and the race for European qualification - in England and Scotland for 2024-25.

Recent confirmed promotions, relegations, titles & qualifications

12 April - BIrmingham clinch League One title

12 April - Arbroath promoted to Scottish Championship

8 April - BIrmingham promoted to Championship

6 April - Southampton relegated to Championship

22 March - Ebbsfleet relegated to National League South

22 March - Dumbarton relegated to Scottish League Two

Premier League

Newcastle players celebrate with the EFL Cup
Newcastle were the first English team to book their place in Europe for 2025-26 [EPA]

The top five teams are guaranteed qualification for the league phase of the Champions League - with Arsenal's win over Real Madrid on 8 April making certain that England will be one of the two associations with the highest Uefa coefficients for 2024-25, and clinching a fifth place in addition to the usual four.

There are also places in the league phase reserved for the winners of this season's Champions League and Europa League, regardless of their domestic league positions.

The sixth-placed Premier League team will qualify for the league phase of the Europa League, along with the FA Cup winners. If the FA Cup winners have already qualified for the Champions League, that Europa place reverts to the league.

Newcastle United's victory in the Carabao Cup final means that at worst they will qualify for the Conference League play-off round. But if they qualify for Europe by their league position, that Conference League spot will revert to the league.

If Chelsea win the Conference League but fail to reach the Champions League, they will qualify for the league phase of the Europa League.

The bottom three teams will be relegated to the Championship. Southampton became the earliest team to be relegated (in terms of games) in Premier League history when they lost 3-1 at Tottenham on 6 April.