Uefa coefficient: How does it affect Champions League places?

Uefa’s association coefficient rankings are used to determine which countries have the best-performing clubs in European competitions.

Uefa awards points to both individual teams and their national associations based on their performances across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

Each season, the two highest-ranked nations in each season are awarded an extra place in the following season’s Champions League. Meanwhile, the overall five-year rankings determine how many places in each country receives in each competition annually.

For example, England and Spain have earned an extra place in the league phase of this season’s Champions League as a result of performances by clubs from those countries last season.

The rankings used for a given season are based on results from the previous year. For instance, for the 25-26 season, the five-year qualifying period from 19-20 to 23-24 is used. However, the two best performing nations from 24-25 season are given those extra spots for the 25-26 Champions League.

A nation’s position in Uefa’s rankings directly influences how many clubs it can enter into the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.