The UEFA ranking system is a mathematical mechanism that evaluates the strength of domestic leagues and individual clubs based on their results in European competitions over the last five seasons.
Although it directly applies to continental competitions in Europe, its impact goes much further—it determines the allocation of places in prestigious tournaments, the level of financial prize money, and seeding in draws. For clubs from South America and other continents, its importance is indirect but still clearly felt in the context of transfers, player valuations, and the global prestige of club football.
Two pillars of the UEFA system: league ranking and club ranking
UEFA maintains two parallel rankings. The league (national) ranking determines how many places a given federation receives in the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League. The club ranking, on the other hand, is used for seeding teams in draws and for distributing individual rewards.
Both are based on points earned by clubs from a given country in European competitions over the past five seasons. The scoring system is uniform: two points for a win and one point for a draw (from the league phase onward). In addition, bonus points are awarded: four points for reaching the Champions League group stage, five for advancing to the Champions League knockout stage, and further bonuses for subsequent rounds.
Importantly, points earned in qualification rounds count toward the league ranking but do not affect the club ranking. This is why Polish teams, which often play in qualifiers, can improve their country’s coefficient even if their individual club rankings remain modest.
How is the UEFA league ranking calculated?
The league coefficient is the sum of points earned by all clubs from a given federation, divided by the number of teams that competed in European competitions in that season. The result is rounded down to three decimal places. The results from the last five seasons are then added together.
Example from the 2024/25 season: England, with a total of 103.339 points, occupies first place in the UEFA ranking and is entitled to seven places in European competitions from the 2027/28 season onward. Poland, ranked 12th with 41.125 points, has five places. This is a direct consequence of how Polish clubs have performed in Europe in recent years—the better the results, the higher the coefficient and the more opportunities to compete in continental tournaments.
It is worth noting that this system rewards consistency. One successful season is not enough—what matters is the regular accumulation of points by multiple teams from the league. This is why mid-tier leagues, such as the Polish Ekstraklasa, can move up the rankings thanks to the combined efforts of several clubs, even if none of them achieves spectacular individual success.
UEFA club ranking – the fight for prestige and an easier path
For individual clubs, the club ranking is the sum of points earned over five seasons, with a minimum value set at 20% of the league coefficient of the federation to which the club belongs. Bonuses for achievements in the group and knockout stages are added to this total.
At the top of the ranking, with 143.5 points, is Real Madrid—a result of years of dominance in the Champions League. Close behind are other European powerhouses such as Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain.
The club ranking determines seeding in league-phase and knockout-stage draws. Teams with higher coefficients are placed in the top pots, which theoretically allows them to avoid the strongest opponents in the early rounds. This is a tangible sporting advantage that can translate into further progression and higher revenues.
Moreover, the club coefficient influences the distribution of UEFA prize money. The higher a club’s position in the ranking, the larger its basic starting share. This represents a real cash injection that can amount to tens of millions of euros in difference between clubs in the top ten and those in the second ten.
Why does the UEFA ranking matter beyond Europe?
At first glance, the UEFA system appears to concern only continental competitions in Europe. In practice, however, its influence is global, including for fans and clubs from South America.
Player transfers. Players performing for clubs with high UEFA rankings have higher market valuations. A Brazilian striker playing for Real Madrid or Manchester City is a completely different transfer asset than the same player representing a club from the lower tiers of the ranking. South American talents often move to top UEFA clubs, where they can earn more and their market value grows faster.
Prestige and media exposure. European competitions, especially the Champions League, are the most prestigious and widely watched club tournaments in the world. Participation increases player visibility, which matters in contract negotiations, sponsorship deals, and future transfers. An Argentine playing for Inter Milan enjoys greater media exposure than if he were playing only in his domestic league.
International comparisons. Although South American clubs compete in the Copa Libertadores rather than UEFA competitions, the UEFA ranking system serves as a reference point when assessing the strength of European leagues. South American clubs follow these rankings because their players often end up in Europe. It is well known that leagues such as La Liga or the Premier League operate at a higher level than most South American leagues—and this is reflected precisely in the UEFA rankings.
Investments and club strategies. Global investors increasingly acquire stakes in European clubs, guided in part by their position in the UEFA ranking. A higher coefficient means greater chances of regular income from European competitions, making the club a more attractive business asset. This phenomenon indirectly affects the transfer market, in which South American clubs also participate by selling their best players to Europe.
Criticism and controversy surrounding the UEFA ranking system
The UEFA ranking system is often criticized for rewarding the rich and creating a closed elite circle. Clubs from the strongest leagues receive more places in competitions, more money, and more favorable draws—making it even harder for teams from smaller federations to compete. This creates a self-perpetuating mechanism: success breeds further success, while weaker leagues fall behind.
There are calls to change the method of calculating coefficients or to introduce more balanced access rules to competitions. For now, however, UEFA is sticking to the current model, which—despite its flaws—provides stability and predictability.
Summary
The UEFA ranking system is a complex but logical mechanism that allocates places in European competitions and financial rewards among clubs and domestic leagues. It is based on results from the last five seasons and rewards sporting consistency. For fans and clubs outside Europe, including those from South America, it has indirect importance—it influences player valuations, transfer strategies, and the global prestige of club football.
Although it does not directly determine success in the Copa Libertadores or other non-UEFA competitions, it serves as an important reference point in world football and sets the standards by which club strength is assessed globally. In the era of football globalization, every point in the UEFA ranking carries weight—even thousands of kilometers away from Europe.
