Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Mon 6 April 2026 16:30, UK

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Newcastle United may still have a chance of qualifying for European competition next season after Sunday’s FA Cup draw.

Eddie Howe’s future is in huge doubt amid an extremely poor season for the Magpies, who currently sit 12th and out of contention for Europe.

Newcastle secured Champions League football last season but have struggled to adjust following a tumultuous summer, which saw Alexander Isak leave.

Decision-makers at St James’ Park had already been struggling against the profit and sustainability rules (PSR), and a lack of European football will only make the situation more difficult to handle.

But Newcastle chiefs will be hoping a chain of events plays out over the coming weeks, which would see the Magpies back in European competition.

Newcastle benefit from FA Cup draw

Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness exclusively told Football Insider last week that Newcastle are facing financial cutbacks amid issues with PSR.

With several players linked with summer exits, and uncertainty surrounding the future of Howe, decision-makers at St James’ Park are facing a difficult summer.

The project undertaken by Newcastle’s owners has been moving at a steady pace, but there is little doubt that the loss of European football will be a major setback.

Yet Sunday’s FA Cup draw has left an outside chance of European football for Newcastle and several other Premier League teams.

Chelsea and Manchester City have avoided each other in the draw, with the former set to take on Leeds United, and the latter, Southampton.

Should one of the two win the FA Cup and finish above seventh in the Premier League, a European spot will be bumped down.

With the Premier League set to receive a fifth Champions League spot, the second Europa League position would go to seventh place, while Man City’s Conference League qualification for winning the Carabao Cup would go to the team that finishes eighth.

The top six is likely out of reach for Newcastle, but they sit just four points behind Brentford and Everton, in seventh and eighth.

Premier League’s European spots could go even lower

There is a minute chance that the Premier League’s European spots could go down to as far as 10th.

For this to happen, Aston Villa would need to win the Europa League, and Liverpool, the Champions League.

Both teams would also need to finish outside of the top five, securing themselves Champions League football and pushing down the Europa League spots.

In that scenario, with the FA Cup going to Chelsea or Man City, the Conference League place would go to the team finishing 10th.

Should that happen, Newcastle will really have no excuse not to qualify for Europe.