The UEFA Country Ranking for the 2024/25 season has significant implications for European football, particularly regarding the Champions League. This ranking determines the number of spots allocated to each national federation in UEFA competitions, and for the upcoming season, it will grant an additional Champions League place to the top two federations.
Current Rankings
As of the latest update, the rankings are as follows:
| Position | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | 12.517 |
| 2 | Italy | 10.750 |
| 3 | Portugal | 10.675 |
| 4 | Spain | 10.607 |
| 5 | Germany | 10.125 |
| 6 | France | 9.500 |
| 7 | Belgium | 9.000 |
| 8 | Czech Republic | 8.300 |
| 9 | Netherlands | 7.666 |
| 10 | Poland | 7.500 |
The rankings reflect a competitive landscape where England maintains its lead, while Italy and Portugal vie closely for second place. Notably, despite strong performances from Italian clubs in recent seasons, Portugal has managed to reclaim the second spot.
Impact of Competition Weighting
This season, the Champions League will have a greater impact on the UEFA rankings compared to the Europa League and Conference League. Each match victory in all three competitions awards points (2 for a win, 1 for a draw), but advancing through the knockout stages yields significantly different rewards:
– Champions League: Advancing earns a federation 1.5 points.
– Europa League: Advancing earns 1 point.
– Conference League: Advancing earns 0.5 points.
Furthermore, winning the group stage in the Champions League contributes a substantial 12 points, compared to 6 points for the Europa League and 4 points for the Conference League.
