How Leeds could qualify for Europe through FA Cup ahead of semi-final vs Chelsea

The Whites will have more than 33,000 fans at Wembley urging them on to enact an upset against a team they have yet to lose to this season. Leeds boast a self-confessed emotional fanbase that will give their all to help the team over the line, having not reached this stage of the competition for 39 years.

Daniel Farke has previously joked how he has had fans ask him questions about Europe after a good result albeit ironically, without the concession of late goals this season the club might well have been competing for such positions.

The Leeds boss recently referenced how the FA Cup is indeed the fastest way to European football, though reaching the final itself would not be enough despite common misconception.

Manchester City seem the favourites to reach the showpiece with Championship outfit Southampton - who beat Leeds during their last trip to Wembley in the 2024 play-off final - their opponents.

Title-challengers Man City are destined for Champions League qualification by table position and so the award of a place in next season’s Europa League would be passed on to another team - but not to the FA Cup final runners-up.

Instead, the place would pass to the next highest-ranked Premier League team that has not qualified for a European spot by virtue of table position. So, in short, Leeds would need to win the FA Cup in order to qualify for the Europa League.

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