Portugal Secures Champions League Berth and Climbs UEFA Ranking
Portuguese clubs have achieved a record-breaking season in European competitions, solidifying Portugal’s sixth place in the UEFA five-year ranking and guaranteeing a Champions League spot for the 2027/28 season. The success of Sporting CP, Sporting Braga, and FC Porto has not only improved Portugal’s standing but also created a significant gap with its closest competitor, Belgium.
Record-Breaking Performance
The combined performance of Portuguese teams resulted in 18,900 points, surpassing the previous record of 18,800 points set in the 2010/11 season when FC Porto and Sporting Braga reached the Europa League final, and Benfica reached the semi-finals. This achievement is particularly notable as it secures Portugal’s position in the top six of the UEFA ranking, ensuring continued access to Champions League qualification spots.
Belgium Falls Behind
The elimination of Genk, the last remaining Belgian team in European competitions, further solidified Portugal’s advantage. Belgium currently sits in eighth place in the UEFA ranking and will start the next season in seventh, behind Portugal and ahead of the Netherlands. Even if Portuguese teams do not add to their points total, Portugal will begin the 2026/27 season with 58,650 points, compared to Belgium’s 55,650 points.
UEFA Ranking: Top 10 (as of March 20, 2026)
- England: 115,630 (5 of 9 clubs)
- Italy: 99,660 (2 of 7 clubs)
- Spain: 95,234 (6 of 8 clubs)
- Germany: 90,545 (3 of 7 clubs)
- France: 81,569 (2 of 7 clubs)
- Portugal: 71,566 (3 of 7 clubs)
- Netherlands: 67,762 (1 of 6 clubs)
- Belgium: 62,250 (0 of 5 clubs)
- Türkiye: 51,875 (0 from 5 clubs)
- Czech Republic: 48,525 (0 from 5 clubs)
The Annual Ranking Battle
Portugal is also competing for an additional Champions League spot awarded based on the annual ranking, where it currently holds fourth place with 18,900 points. This is just 0.528 points behind Germany (3rd) and 1.381 points behind Spain (2nd). The tie between Sporting Braga and Real Betis is particularly significant in this pursuit.
Annual Ranking: Top 10 (as of March 20, 2026)
- England: 24,791 (5 of 9 clubs)
- Spain: 20,281 (6 of 8 clubs)
- Germany: 19,428 (4 of 7 clubs)
- Portugal: 18,900 (3 of 5 clubs)
- Italy: 18,714 (2 of 7 clubs)
- France: 16,392 (2 of 7 clubs)
- Poland: 15,750 (0 from 4 clubs)
- Greece: 13,800 (1 of 5 clubs)
- Denmark: 12,250 (0 of 4 clubs)
- Cyprus: 12,156 (0 of 4 clubs)
While the competition is fierce, Portugal’s strong performance this season positions it well to potentially secure an extra Champions League berth for the following season.