Fewer European tickets for the Eredivisie: The current one

Fewer European tickets for the Eredivisie: The current one

In recent years, Dutch clubs have lost strength in European competitions, which is now also affecting the number of European tickets available in the Eredivisie. In the 2025/26 season, the Eredivisie was still allowed to award six European starting places, which enabled teams such as PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord to take part in the Champions League. In addition, NEC qualified for the qualifying round of the Champions League, while AZ plays in the Europa League. FC Twente and Ajax also had the chance to compete in European competitions, with Ajax able to qualify for the Conference League. However, a drastic change is expected for the coming year, the 2026/27 season: Due to increased competition and the improved performance of other European leagues, especially Portugal, the Eredivisie will only have five starting places available for European competitions. This means that teams have to fight harder for the coveted places, as only the best team in the league can qualify directly for the Champions League. The second team will advance to the qualifying round of the prestigious competition. The cup winner still has the right to take part in the main tournament of the Europa League, while the third-placed team in the Eredivisie must first go through qualification to secure a place in the Europa League. The teams that finish in fourth to seventh place will advance to the European play-offs, where they will compete for a place in the Conference League qualification. Should the cup winner also secure a starting place through the league, the next best-placed club will move up in the rankings and also have the chance of a European place. These changes in ticket distribution represent a challenge for Dutch clubs, who will have to give their best not only in domestic competition but also on the European stage in the coming season. The increase in competitiveness in the Eredivisie could be further enhanced by this new distribution of European participation as teams strive to improve their positions and catch up with other leagues. The coming season will be exciting, as the clubs will do everything they can to return to the top European positions and to convince with a strong performance in order to possibly increase the number of European starting places again in the future.