Five Ligue 1 clubs in C1 from next season, it’s possible. And this even without winning a European Cup this year.
France having more representatives in the Champions League than England, Spain, Italy or Germany, it seems improbable and yet it is now possible. From next season – the C1 changing its formula with 36 candidates for the title compared to 32 until then – Ligue 1 will have one more ambassador whatever happens: three direct qualifiers and a fourth sent to the preliminary rounds. But a fifth guest could also be there.
Not thanks to the ticket promised to the winner of the Europa League, who will certainly have his place reserved in the queen of European competitions, but through one of the two tickets which will be allocated on merit, to the two most successful nations of the current exercise. In its initial plans, UEFA had reserved the right to offer two tickets to two teams of its choice – potentially big players left behind in their championship. Faced with the unpopularity of this subtlety, the continental body has chosen to backpedal, rewarding the countries at the top of its index.
Six ambassadors still in the running
For this 2023-2024 financial year, Italy (14,000 points) and Germany (13,642 points) occupy the two top places; France is currently relegated to the seventh level (11,583 points) but with the largest contingent of survivors in the various European competitions – six (PSG in C1; Lens, Marseille, Toulouse, and Rennes in the Europa League; Lille in Conference League) – tied with Italy.
A good continental run by Ligue 1 representatives could therefore allow France to close the gap and claim one of the two additional tickets for the Champions League. Note that this will be the case every season from now on.
