Italy’s hopes of securing an additional place in next season’s UEFA Champions League are fading, with Serie A currently sitting ninth in the UEFA seasonal association rankings. Recent results in European competitions have made the race increasingly difficult for Italian clubs, leaving the country with plenty of ground to make up if it wants to earn an extra qualification spot for the 2027–28 campaign.

The additional place, known as the European Performance Spot, is awarded to the two countries whose clubs achieve the best overall results across UEFA competitions during a season. England and Spain received these spots for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 campaigns, while Italy and Germany earned the extra places in 2024–25, the first season following the Champions League’s expansion to 36 teams.

UEFA determines the rankings by awarding points for results in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. Wins earn two points, draws count for one, and defeats bring no points. Clubs also collect bonus points based on their final league-phase positions and progress through subsequent rounds. These totals are then divided by the number of clubs representing each country in European competitions to establish the seasonal rankings.

The latest standings place England at the top with 6.611 points, followed by Portugal on 6.300 and Norway on 6.200. Germany occupies fourth place with 6.142, while Spain sits fifth with 6.125. Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Greece are also ahead of Italy, which has accumulated 5.214 points, level with France but behind the leading nations in the race for the two additional Champions League places.

For Serie A, the priority is now to deliver stronger results across all three European competitions and climb the UEFA rankings before the season concludes. Every victory and successful run through the knockout stages could make a difference, although Italy faces a challenging task given its current position. Without a significant improvement in results, the country risks missing out on an extra Champions League berth, reducing the number of Italian clubs that could qualify for Europe’s premier club competition next season.