Champions League burning questions: Could all six Premier League teams be eliminated?

March 17, 2026 - 00:33

The unthinkable is suddenly a distinct possibility in this season's UEFA Champions League. For the first time in recent memory, every Premier League club faces a perilous path to the quarter-finals after failing to secure a single first-leg victory across the round of sixteen.

Manchester City, last year's champions, were held to a frustrating draw in Copenhagen. Arsenal suffered a narrow defeat away to Porto. The results for England's other European representatives were similarly underwhelming, leaving all six clubs with significant work to do in the return fixtures on home soil.

This collective stumble has ignited a pressing question across the football world: could all six Premier League teams be eliminated before the final eight? The scenario, while still unlikely, is no longer mere speculation. The Premier League has touted its status as the world's strongest domestic competition, but this continental struggle challenges that narrative. The upcoming second legs have now transformed into a high-stakes test of resilience and quality. The nation will be watching to see if its clubs can stage dramatic comebacks or if European football is poised to witness a truly historic and unexpected mass exit of English contenders. The pride of a league hangs in the balance.