Poland extended its lead over the Czech Republic in the UEFA country ranking to 0.7 points following mid-week qualifying matches in European competitions. The advantage grew from 0.4 points after Polish clubs collected 0.5 points across Wednesday and Thursday fixtures.
In Wednesday Europa League qualifying, Gornik Zabrze lost 1-0 away to Ferencvaros in Hungary. On Thursday, Jagiellonia Bialystok earned a 2-1 win over Rangers, while Lech Poznan secured a late 1-0 victory against KI Klaksvik. In Conference League qualifying, Rakow Czestochowa drew 0-0 at home against Hammarby, and GKS Katowice lost 2-0 to Hapoel Tel Aviv.
The Czech Republic added 0.2 points from two Thursday games. Hradec Kralove lost to Besiktas in Europa League qualifying, while Jablonec defeated RFS in Conference League qualifying. The Czechs currently have only three teams active in qualifying rounds.
Upcoming points for rival nations
Two Czech clubs are positioned to boost their country ranking soon. Czech champion Slavia Prague holds an automatic spot in the Champions League, which guarantees a six-point bonus in the club ranking in September, adding more than one point to the national coefficient.
Runner-up Sparta Prague will also collect points in European group play, while Viktoria Plzen enters in the fourth qualifying round of the Europa League. Viktoria Plzen will earn three club ranking points for advancing, or 2.5 points if falling to the Conference League. The Czech Republic will start September with over two points added to its total, whereas Poland has no team guaranteed a place in any league phase.
Greece trails further behind Poland, with the gap widening to over two points. PAOK lost to Anderlecht on Thursday, while Panathinaikos picked up modest points for a Wednesday draw. Greek champion AEK Athens plays in the final Champions League qualifying round, guaranteeing at least a Europa League berth and subsequent ranking points.
UEFA ranking standings and qualification spots
Maintaining a top-12 position is vital because it allows the Polish champion to enter Champions League qualifying at the play-off stage, ensuring at least a Europa League group spot. Holding 10th position would grant Poland's champion direct entry into the Champions League league phase for the 2028/29 season. A spot in the top 15 secures five European qualification berths.
England leads the UEFA country ranking with 98.520 points and nine teams in competition. Italy ranks second with 84.232 points from seven clubs, followed by Spain in third with 78.619 points from eight teams. Germany holds fourth place with 76.689 points across seven clubs, France is fifth with 68.136 points across seven teams, and Turkey sits ninth with 46.375 points across four remaining teams from five.
Poland currently occupies 10th place with 43.525 points and five teams remaining out of five. The Czech Republic is 11th with 42.825 points from five teams, Greece is 12th with 41.312 points from five teams, and Denmark ranks 13th with 35.681 points from four teams.
