UEFA top six rankings confirmed: Italy gets its fourth Champions League spot back
UEFA have confirmed that Serie A has been granted four automatic Champions League places, beginning in the 2018/19 season.
“Under the revised access lists for the revamped European club competitions from 2018, the top four nations in the association rankings will each receive four guaranteed places in the Champions League group stage,” said UEFA in a statement.
“The countries ranked fifth and six gain two group berths plus a qualifying spot for the club finishing third.”
Regardless of results between now and the end of the season, Spain, Germany, England and Italy will be the top four associations. France comes in fifth, and Russia cracks the top six for the first time in seven years, overtaking Portugal in the coefficient rankings.
According to UEFA, nations ranked seventh to tenth will all receive one automatic group berth and one qualifying spot, currently held by Portugal, Ukraine, Belgium and Turkey. The Czech Republic and Switzerland, currently in 11th and 12th, would see their champions enter the playoffs, and also join the top ten in being assured of at least one UEFA Europa League group slot.
