Ukraine Faces Deep Decline in UEFA Rankings, Falling Several Positions Behind Russia
The Ukrainian football scene has experienced significant setbacks in the latest UEFA national association rankings, which have serious implications for the country's future participation in European competitions. According to recent updates from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), Ukraine has dropped five places in the overall ranking, now ranking 28th, allowing Russia — previously suspended from all European club competitions due to its invasion of Ukraine — to leapfrog ahead. Despite international bans, Russia continues to accumulate bonus points of 4.333 per season, complicating Ukraine's efforts to recover its position. Currently, Ukrainian clubs can only participate in the qualification rounds of the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League, and only if Ukraine's ranking improves, which remains uncertain. At present, four Ukrainian teams are competing in European tournaments: one in the Champions League, one in the Europa League, and two in the Europa Conference League, all beginning their journey from the qualification stages. This situation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Ukrainian football amid geopolitical tensions. Additionally, recent reports indicate that UEFA added a third host country for the Euro 2026 futsal tournament — Belarus, raising further questions about political influences in European football governance and the broader regional context.