AZ Alkmaar’s 2-1 victory over NEC Nijmegen in the KNVB Cup final on April 21, 2024, has triggered a significant shift in how European qualification spots are allocated for the 2024-25 season, creating a precarious situation for Ajax Amsterdam’s continental ambitions.
The triumph secured AZ’s first major trophy since 2013 and guaranteed the club a place in the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League group stage. However, because AZ finished third in the Eredivisie — behind champions PSV Eindhoven and runners-up Feyenoord — their cup win activates a redistribution mechanism that could deny Ajax a direct path to the Champions League.
Under the current European qualification system governed by UEFA coefficients and administered by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), the Eredivisie earns two direct Champions League group stage spots, one Europa League berth and one Europa Conference League place. Normally, these are awarded based on league position: first and second to Champions League, third to Europa League playoff round, and fourth to Europa Conference League.
But when a team outside the top two wins the KNVB Cup, the cup winner claims the Europa League group stage spot, pushing all other European qualifiers down one position. In this scenario, AZ’s victory means:
- PSV Eindhoven (1st) qualifies directly for the Champions League group stage
- Feyenoord (2nd) earns the second Champions League group stage spot
- AZ Alkmaar (Cup winners, 3rd in league) takes the Europa League group stage berth
- FC Utrecht (4th) moves into the Europa League playoff round
- Go Ahead Eagles (5th) claims the Europa Conference League playoff round spot
- Ajax Amsterdam (6th) is left without any European qualification
This outcome represents a dramatic reversal for Ajax, who entered the final matchday of the Eredivisie season with realistic hopes of securing a Champions League playoff spot through a fourth-place finish. Instead, their sixth-place finish — the club’s lowest league position since the 2010-11 season — now threatens to depart them completely absent from European competition for the first time since 2014-15.
“It’s a hard pill to swallow,” said Ajax sporting director Sven Mislintat in a post-match interview with ESPN Netherlands. “We had control of our own destiny going into the last matchday. To see it slip away not because of our performance but due to external circumstances is frustrating, but we accept the rules as they are.”
The situation underscores the volatility of European qualification in leagues where cup success can dramatically alter continental access. For AZ, the cup win represents a historic achievement — their fifth KNVB Cup title and first since 2013 — and a vindication of head coach Pascal Jansen’s second season in charge. Jansen’s side defeated NEC 2-1 at De Kuip in Rotterdam, with goals from Mayckel Lahdo and Christian Rasmussen either side of Nemanja Gudelj’s equalizer.
For Ajax, the implications extend beyond immediate European revenue. Missing continental competition affects player recruitment, retention, and the club’s ability to compete for top talent. Champions League participation brings approximately €15.6 million in base funding from UEFA alone, not including market pool shares and matchday revenue — figures that could significantly impact Ajax’s transfer budget for the upcoming season.
UEFA’s access list for the 2024-25 season confirms that the Netherlands’ allocation is determined by its position in the UEFA association club coefficients, where the Eredivisie currently ranks 8th. This grants the league two Champions League qualifiers, one Europa League entrant, and one Europa Conference League participant — exactly the framework now being reshaped by AZ’s cup triumph.
Historical precedent exists for such scenarios. In 2019, Ajax won the KNVB Cup while finishing second in the league, preserving their Champions League qualification through league position. In 2010, Twente’s cup win — coupled with a third-place league finish — similarly pushed the fourth-place team into European contention, though the effects were less severe due to different coefficient rankings at the time.
The Dutch football landscape has evolved significantly since then. PSV’s sustained dominance, Feyenoord’s resurgence under Arne Slot, and AZ’s consistent top-four presence have tightened the battle for European spots. Ajax’s recent decline — marked by managerial instability, financial constraints, and fluctuating on-field performance — has left them vulnerable to precisely this kind of permutation.
Looking ahead, Ajax’s immediate focus shifts to the 2024-25 Eredivisie season, which begins in August. The club has begun restructuring under latest head coach Francesco Farioli, appointed in June 2024, with an emphasis on youth integration and tactical discipline. Whether they can rebound quickly enough to reclaim a European place remains uncertain, but the pressure to perform will be immense.
For now, AZ celebrates a landmark achievement that validates their steady progress over recent seasons. Their Europa League group stage participation will offer valuable continental experience and financial stability. Meanwhile, Ajax faces a sobering reality: in modern European football, even historic giants are not immune to the ripple effects of domestic cup outcomes.
The next confirmed checkpoint for both clubs is the release of the official UEFA Europa League and Europa Conference League group stage draws, scheduled for August 30, 2024. Ajax supporters will be watching closely — not for their own team’s fate, but to see which Eredivisie representatives will carry Dutch hopes into Europe’s secondary competitions.
What does this mean for the Eredivisie’s European representation moving forward? How might Ajax adjust their summer transfer strategy in response to missing continental revenue? These questions will shape the narrative as the Dutch football community processes the fallout from one of the season’s most consequential cup finals.
Stay tuned to Archysport for continuing coverage of Ajax’s rebuilding efforts and AZ’s European campaign as both clubs navigate the aftermath of this pivotal moment in Dutch football.
