Each UEFA member association (hereinafter association) may enter a certain number of clubs for the competition through its top domestic championship, in accordance with the association coefficient rankings drawn up in line with Annex D. These rankings determine the association’s position in the access list (Annex A), which in turn determines the stage at which each club enters the competition. Only one single team per club may be entered.
Associations are represented on the following basis (see Annex A):
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one representative: winner of the top domestic championship;
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two representatives: winner and runner-up of the top domestic championship;
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three representatives: winner, runner-up and third-placed club in the top domestic championship;
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four representatives: winner, runner-up, third-placed and fourth-placed clubs in the top domestic championship.
Additionally, the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League titleholders are each guaranteed a place in the league phase even if they do not qualify for the competition through their domestic championships. If the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League titleholder qualifies for the UEFA Europa League or UEFA Conference League through one of its domestic competitions, the number of places to which its association is entitled in the UEFA Europa League or UEFA Conference League is reduced by one.
If the UEFA Champions League and/or UEFA Europa League titleholder qualifies for the league phase of the competition through its domestic championship, the vacancy created in the league phase is filled as follows, in the following order (see Annex A):
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A vacancy created by the UEFA Champions League titleholder is filled by the domestic champion with the highest individual club coefficient of all the clubs that qualify for the champions path. The champions path is adapted accordingly, with each subsequent vacancy filled by the club(s) with the highest individual club coefficient(s) of all the clubs in the previous round.
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A vacancy created by the UEFA Europa League titleholder is filled by the club with the best individual club coefficient of all the clubs that qualify for the champions path and the league path, provided that this club is the highest ranked domestically of those from its association that have not already qualified for the league phase of the competition directly. If this condition of being the highest ranked domestic club is not met by the club with the highest individual club coefficient, then the position moves to the club with the next highest individual club coefficient of all clubs in the champions path and league path. Once the vacancy is filled, the champions path or league path is adapted accordingly, with each subsequent vacancy filled by the club(s) with the highest individual club coefficient(s) of all the clubs in the previous round of the corresponding path.
If the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League titleholder qualifies for the qualifying phase or play-offs of the competition, the respective qualifying rounds or play-offs are adapted accordingly, with each vacancy filled by the club(s) with the highest individual club coefficient(s) of all the clubs in the previous round of the corresponding path.
In the event of any other vacancies, and further knock-on effects in the UEFA Europa League and/or UEFA Conference League, priority is given to the best ranked club(s) in the UEFA Champions League or the domestic cup winner(s) in the UEFA Europa League and/or UEFA Conference League (or the club(s) replacing it if it qualifies for the UEFA Champions League) of the association ranked highest in the access list for the previous round of the corresponding path.
Finally, the two associations whose affiliated clubs achieved the best collective performance in the previous season of the UEFA men’s club competitions (i.e. best season club association coefficient), in accordance with the season coefficient principles (see Annex D.3), are each entitled to an additional place in the league phase, known as a European performance spot (EPS). The EPS is allocated to the club that finishes the relevant association's domestic championship in the highest position of all those that do not qualify for the league phase of the UEFA Champions League via the domestic championship (after any vacancies have been filled in accordance with Paragraph 3.04 to Paragraph 3.06). The two associations' overall quota of clubs qualifying to UEFA club competitions are each increased by one club.
Places in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or UEFA Conference League made available by clubs allocated an EPS are filled as follows:
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If a club allocated an EPS also qualifies for the UEFA Champions League qualifying phase or play-offs, its place in the qualifying phase or play-offs is allocated to the club that finishes the same association’s domestic championship in the highest position of all those that qualify for the league path of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or UEFA Conference League.
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If a club allocated an EPS also qualifies for the UEFA Europa League, its place in the UEFA Europa League is allocated to the club that finishes the same association’s domestic championship in the highest position of all those that qualify for the UEFA Europa League or UEFA Conference League.
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If a club allocated an EPS also qualifies for the UEFA Conference League, its place in the UEFA Conference League is allocated to the club that finishes the same association’s domestic championship in the highest position of all those that qualify for the UEFA Conference League.
Each other representative of the domestic championship concerned enters the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or UEFA Conference League at the stage initially reserved for the club ranked immediately above it in the domestic championship. The highest-ranking domestic championship club that did not qualify for any UEFA club competition enters the UEFA Conference League (or the UEFA Europa League in accordance with Paragraph 3.03 of the Regulations of the UEFA Conference League) at the stage initially reserved for the association’s lowest-ranking qualifying domestic championship club.
UEFA issues a circular letter at the beginning of the season confirming the final adapted and rebalanced access list on the basis of the final results in the UEFA club competitions and the domestic competitions and addressing any scenario not covered by these regulations in accordance with the above rules and principles.