Ukraine has risen in the UEFA rankings: what the new position means
19 December 11:34
Ukraine has improved its position in the UEFA coefficients rating, rising to 24th place following the results of the autumn part of the European Cup season. The updated table of coefficients was published on Friday, December 19, on the official website of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Thanks to the performances of Ukrainian clubs in European competitions, the country has overtaken Serbia and a number of other associations, strengthening its position in the fight for better representation in international tournaments.
How many points did Ukraine get?
According to UEFA, Ukrainian clubs scored 6,687 rating points in the 2025/2026 season. This indicator allowed Ukraine to move up one place and get ahead of Serbia in the overall standings.
The UEFA rankings are based on the results of each association’s clubs over the past five seasons, not just the current year. Therefore, even individual successful performances can have a long-term impact.
Which clubs influenced the result
This season, Ukraine was represented in European competitions by several clubs, but not all of them were able to go far:
- “Oleksandriya and Polissia failed to qualify for the Conference League;
- “Dynamo Kyiv ended their performances at the league stage;
- “Shakhtar Donetsk successfully reached the 1/8 finals of the European Cup tournament, making a key contribution to Ukraine’s overall coefficient.
It was Shakhtar’s results that were decisive for Ukraine’s rise in the ranking.
Who Ukraine has beaten and who it is losing to
After the rating was updated, Ukraine is ahead:
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Slovakia
- and a number of other European football associations.
At the same time, Ukraine is still inferior to Hungary, which is ranked 23rd, and is also far behind Poland, which is ranked 11th.
Who leads the UEFA rankings
England remains the undisputed leader of the UEFA coefficients rating.
English clubs consistently show good results in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League, which gives the country a significant gap with competitors.
Why the UEFA rankings are important for Ukraine
The position in the UEFA rankings directly affects
- the number of teams representing the country in European competitions;
- the starting qualifying rounds;
- the chances of clubs to avoid early matches with top rivals;
- financial revenues from participation in tournaments.
A rise in the rankings is an important signal for Ukrainian football, especially in times of war and limited opportunities for clubs to fully prepare.
