Which Serie A Teams Will Play in the 2025–2026 UEFA Champions League? | OneFootball

Italian football has been on a bit of a high lately. Last season, five Serie A teams made it into the Champions League, which was a huge deal. But for the upcoming 2025–26 season, it’s back to the usual four spots. Why? Italy just missed out on grabbing that bonus fifth place this time around.

Analysts tracking football metrics, including those at TonyBet, have kept a close eye on how Serie A clubs perform and what fixtures will be worth watching in the edition of UCL.

Who’s In? The Four Italian Teams Going to the Champions League

Even without the extra slot, Italy is sending four solid teams into Europe’s biggest competition:

epa12147516 UEFA Champions League trophy on display at the Allianz Arena before the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Internazionale Milano in Munich, Germany 31 May 2025. EPA-EFE/RONALD WITTEK

What Happened to the Fifth Spot?

UEFA now gives two bonus Champions League places to the countries whose clubs perform best in Europe each season.

Last year, Italy crushed it—so we got a fifth team in. But this time, England and Spain finished ahead in the rankings. Italian clubs didn’t earn quite enough points across the board to stay in that top two.

So it’s four teams for Italy this season.

What This Means for Serie A

Even without the bonus, having four teams in the Champions League is still a win. It means more eyes on Italian football, more money for the clubs, and more chances for young players to show what they’ve got.

The new Champions League setup means more games for everyone, which also means way busier schedules. Teams are going to need solid depth and smart rotation if they want to keep up.

WALSALL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on prior to the pre-season friendly match between Aston Villa and AS Roma at Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium on August 06, 2025 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Still in the Mix: As Roma, Fiorentina

AS Roma and Fiorentina didn’t make it this time, but they’re not out of the picture. They’ve got quality and just need the right run of form to get back in it next season. The race for the top spots in Serie A is always wide open.

Things change fast—injuries, transfers, coaching changes. Pretty much anything can shake up the table.

Final Thoughts

Serie A may not have scored that fifth Champions League spot this year, but the league’s still heading in the right direction. The four teams going in are legit contenders, and there’s plenty of talent rising through the ranks.

Fans have every reason to be excited. Italian football is still very much in the mix.