UEFA coefficients / rankings

What are UEFA coefficients ?

UEFA coefficients help decide seedings in tournament draws, like the group stages and knockout rounds. They also determine how many teams each country can send to these competitions, affecting the balance of competition and the distribution of prize money. According to UEFA, coefficients make sure there are fair draws and proper representation in Europe’s top club tournaments.

Types of coefficients

There are two main types of coefficients: association (country) coefficients and club coefficients. Both are based on how well clubs from each country perform in UEFA competitions over the last five seasons.

Association (country) coefficients

An association coefficient is based on the total points earned by all clubs from a country in UEFA competitions like the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League during a season. Points are awarded as follows:

– Win (group stage onwards): 2 points
– Draw (group stage onwards): 1 point
– Win (qualifying and play-off rounds): 1 point
– Draw (qualifying and play-off rounds): 0.5 points
– Loss: 0 points

The points are added up and divided by the number of clubs from that country that participated in UEFA competitions. This gives the association’s coefficient for that season. To get the overall ranking, UEFA adds up the coefficients from the last five seasons. This ranking decides how many teams from each country can enter UEFA competitions and at what stage. Bonus points are given to clubs for reaching certain stages, and these also count towards the country’s coefficient.

Club coefficients

A club’s coefficient is based on its own performance in UEFA competitions over the last five seasons. Clubs earn points for wins, draws, and reaching certain stages, just like the association coefficients, but this one focuses on the club’s individual results.

A club’s five-year coefficient is the total points it has earned in the last five seasons. However, a club’s coefficient can’t be lower than 20% of its country’s coefficient for that period, which helps clubs from higher-ranked countries that might not have participated in European competitions every year.

Note that special rules can apply for things like single-leg matches or penalty shootouts, but penalty shootouts don’t affect coefficient points (they’re counted as draws for this purpose).

Historical and current context

Historical evolution

The UEFA coefficient system, which plays a key role in European football, was introduced in 1979 to rank countries based on their clubs’ performances in European competitions. It was initially used to decide who qualified for the European Cup, Cup Winners‘ Cup, and UEFA Cup. Over time, the system evolved to keep up with the growing complexity of UEFA tournaments.

– 1980s-1990s: The early system focused mainly on association coefficients, using a simple points system (2 points for a win, 1 for a draw). Club coefficients were added later, helping with seeding for the growing Champions League.
– 2000s: Bonus points were introduced for teams reaching advanced stages of tournaments (like the quarter-finals or semi-finals). The five-year rolling period for calculating coefficients became standard.
– 2010s: With the launch of the UEFA Europa League (2009), the system adjusted to reflect different competition levels. The ten-season coefficient for revenue distribution was added to reward long-term success.
– 2016 onward: The introduction of minimum guaranteed points (e.g., 3 points for Europa League, 2.5 for Conference League) and introduction of the UEFA Conference League (2021) helped support clubs in lower-tier competitions. However, these points don’t count towards association coefficients to avoid skewing national rankings.

These changes reflect UEFA’s efforts to maintain fairness and balance as football grows more competitive and financially significant.

Current rankings 

As of May 18, 2025, UEFA coefficients are updated after every matchday of the 2024/25 season. The rankings change based on the performances in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. Top clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City are expected to lead the club rankings, thanks to their consistent success in recent seasons.

For national rankings, countries like England, Spain, Italy, and Germany are typically at the top, with Italy and Germany getting extra Champions League spots for the 2024/25 season based on their 2023/24 results. Notable performances, like Brighton’s round of 16 run in the Europa League in 2023/24, boosted England’s coefficient. Similarly, clubs like Atalanta and Roma helped Italy’s recent surge, earning them additional qualification spots.

The rankings are very competitive, and even small changes can affect future qualifications and seeding, with ties being broken by the most recent season’s performance.

Examples and relevance

The impact of coefficients is clear in the 2024/25 season’s expanded Champions League, which increased the number of teams to 36. Extra spots were given to the top two associations based on their previous season’s coefficients. This benefited Italy and Germany but exposed weaknesses for England, where a dip in performance in 2023/24 lowered their chances of getting additional qualification spots. Clubs like Liverpool and Manchester City now face pressure to improve to help restore England’s ranking.

The coefficient system also affects strategic planning. Clubs focus on European success not only for trophies but also for coefficient points, which help with future seeding and revenue. National associations also encourage clubs to perform well, as their collective success improves the country’s coefficient, securing more spots in European competitions. For example, smaller countries like the Netherlands benefit when clubs like Ajax or PSV do well, improving their coefficient and earning direct group-stage entries.

Debates and challenges

While the coefficient system is effective, it has sparked some controversy. The 2024/25 Champions League expansion, based on association coefficients, has been criticised for favouring larger football nations with more clubs and resources. This could marginalise smaller countries, like those in Scandinavia or Eastern Europe. Critics argue that the system creates a cycle where richer leagues dominate, as their clubs benefit from easier draws and more revenue, widening the competitive gap.

Also, because the system heavily relies on recent performance, a single poor season can drastically affect a country’s chances of future entries, as seen with England’s struggles in 2023/24. Despite these issues, the coefficient system remains a key part of UEFA’s structure, balancing merit and competitive fairness.

Impact on competitions

Seeding and draw implications

UEFA club coefficients are crucial in determining how teams are seeded in European competitions like the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. Clubs with higher coefficients are placed in higher pots (e.g., Pot 1 for top-ranked teams), which reduces the chances of facing other strong teams early. This system aims to create fairer and more exciting matchups. For example, in the 2024/25 Champions League draw, clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester City, with high coefficients, were seeded in Pot 1, avoiding early clashes with other top teams. The same system applies in knockout rounds, where higher coefficients can even give clubs home advantage in the second leg, improving their chances of advancing.

Qualification and access list

Association coefficients decide how many teams each country can send to UEFA competitions and at which stage they enter. Higher-ranked countries, like England, Spain, Italy, and Germany, get multiple direct entries into the group stages of the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. Lower-ranked countries, like Cyprus or Malta, often start in the earlier qualifying rounds. In the 2024/25 season, the Champions League expanded to 36 teams, adding two extra spots for countries with the highest coefficients, such as Italy and Germany, based on their strong performances in 2023/24. This has led to more competition among nations to climb the rankings.

Financial and competitive impacts

Coefficients also have a big impact on financial matters. Club coefficients, especially the ten-season coefficient, determine a club’s share of UEFA’s prize money. The higher a club’s coefficient, the more money it earns. For instance,  European clubs like Bayern Munich, Inter and heavy favourites like Real Madrid, with consistent European success, earn more because of their high coefficients. This money helps them reinvest in their teams and facilities, creating a cycle of success.

Follow UEFA competitions with real-time data

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