Seeding in the Champions League 2024/2025

Seeding in the Champions League 2024/2025

UEFA European Cup Football
by Bert Kassies

Last update:

If you have any information about data at this page being incorrect, incomplete, or out-of-date, please send a message to bert@kassiesa.net. Qualified clubs are assumed to obtain a UEFA license for European football unless they lost a final appeal at the national Appeals Body.

This page shows the list of seeded and unseeded clubs for draws in the qualifying rounds and the league stage of the Champions League 2024/2025. The UEFA Club Ranking of 2024 determines the seeding of the clubs in the tables below. See Qualification 2024/2025 for a list of qualified clubs, and Access List 2024/2025 for an overview of berths per country. More detailed information may also be found in the official CL regulations (pdf or online).

This seeding list is according to the format of the 2024-27 period. All clubs eliminated in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League are transferred to the Europa League or the Conference League. For details, see the new Access List 2024/2025 and 2024-27 qualifying scheme. The 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds, and the play-off round of the Champions League are split into two sections: one for champions and one for non-champions.

Although the regulations no longer require the use of regional groups (as used before 2009), until now UEFA still uses some kind of regionalization in the first qualifying rounds. At first the clubs are divided into seeded and unseeded clubs, and then the seeded and unseeded clubs are split into regional groups. The general approach seems to use the North/Central/South scheme, but no specific rules are known.

Until further notice Russian clubs are suspended from participation in UEFA competitions. The access list will be re-balanced as follows:

The champions of Sweden (Malmö FF) and Poland move from CL-Q1 to CL-Q2,
The cup winner of Norway (Molde FK) moves from EL-Q1 to EL-Q2,
The cup winners (or runners-up) of Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg (Progrès Niederkorn), Faroe Islands (HB Torshavn), and Northern Ireland (Cliftonville) move from CO-Q1 to CO-Q2,
Since there are now only 15 CL-Q1 losers in CO-Q2ch, one of them gets a bye to CO-Q3ch (to be determined by a draw).

Italy and Germany secured an EPS spot: N5 moves to CL-LS, N6 to EL-LS, and N7 to CO-PO. But the EPS spots are awarded after all other rebalancing is done, so the clubs involved might change.

(unseeded < 5.500, seeded > 7.000)
Unknown                        coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------
Petrocub Hîncesti        Mol   7.000
CH                       Bos   5.500 -  9.500
Dinamo Batumi            Geo   5.500
CH                       Kos   2.308 -  6.500
CH                       Arm   2.125 -  8.000
CH                       Mon   2.000 -  8.000
CH                       Alb   1.475 -  6.500


Seeded clubs                   coef.             Unseeded clubs                 coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------    ------------------------ --- ----------------
Ferencváros              Hun  35.000             .
Qarabag FK               Azb  33.000             .
Slovan Bratislava        Svk  30.500             .
Ludogorets Razgrad       Bul  26.000             .
HJK Helsinki             Fin  11.500             NK Celje                 Slo   4.500
Flora Tallinn            Est  11.000             Hamrun Spartans          Mlt   4.500
FCSB                     Rom  10.500             Larne FC                 Nir   4.500
KI Klaksvik              Far  10.000             Dinamo Minsk             Bls   4.500
Shamrock Rovers          Irl   9.500             FK Panevezys             Lit   4.000
Lincoln Red Imps         Gib   9.000             Ordabasy Shymkent        Kaz   4.000
The New Saints           Wal   8.500             Vikingur Reykjavik       Isl   4.000
RFS Riga                 Lat   8.000             FC Struga                Mac   3.500
.                                                Differdange 03           Lux   3.500
.                                                UE Santa Coloma          And   1.199
.                                                AC Virtus                Sma   0.366

Before the draw the clubs are probably divided into groups. See last year's UEFA Champions League 1st qualifying round draw for more info.

The draw for the 2nd qualifying round is made before the results of the 1st qualifying round are known. Pairs of clubs of the 1st qualifying round are seeded by the highest ranking of the clubs involved.

Below it is assumed that high ranked teams of the 1st round qualify for the 2nd round. If other teams qualify some teams below may shift to a higher pot.

(unseeded < 11.000, seeded > 11.500)
Unknown                        coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------
HJK Helsinki *           Fin  11.500
Flora Tallinn *          Est  11.000
CH                       Den   7.000 - 51.500
CH                       Gre  >6.225 ->46.000

CL-Q1 *                        7.000 -  9.500
CL-Q1 *                        5.500 -  8.000
CL-Q1 *                        5.500 -  8.000


Seeded clubs                   coef.             Unseeded clubs                 coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------    ------------------------ --- ----------------
Dinamo Zagreb            Cro  50.000             .
Ferencváros *            Hun  35.000             .
Qarabag FK *             Azb  33.000             .
Slovan Bratislava *      Svk  30.500             .
Bodø/Glimt               Nor  28.000             .
Ludogorets Razgrad *     Bul  26.000             FCSB *                   Rom  10.500
CH                       Cze  22.500 - 53.000    KI Klaksvik *            Far  10.000
Malmö FF                 Swe  18.500             Shamrock Rovers *        Irl   9.500
CH                       Isr  18.000 - 35.500    Lincoln Red Imps *       Gib   9.000
APOEL Nicosia            Cyp  14.500             The New Saints *         Wal   8.500
.                                                RFS Riga *               Lat   8.000
.                                                CH                       Pol   5.075

Before the draw the club(pair)s of the 2nd round are divided into groups. See last year's UEFA Champions League 2nd qualifying round draw for more info.

(unseeded < 22.500, seeded > 34.500)
Unknown                        coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------
N2                       Tur  31.500 - 36.000
Dynamo Kyiv              Ukr  26.500
N2                       Cze  22.500 - 53.000
N2                       Aut  14.500 - 50.000
N2                       Sui   6.595 - 34.500
N2                       Srb   5.555 - 25.500


Seeded clubs                   coef.             Unseeded clubs                 coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------    ------------------------ --- ----------------
.                                                .
.                                                .
.                                                .

The draw for the 3rd qualifying round is made before the results of the 2nd qualifying round are known. Pairs of clubs of the 2nd qualifying round are seeded by the highest ranking of the clubs involved.

Below it is assumed that high ranked teams of the 2nd round qualify for the 3rd round. If other teams qualify some teams below may shift to a higher pot.

(unseeded < 26.000, seeded > 33.000)
Unknown                        coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------
Qarabag FK *             Azb  33.000
Slovan Bratislava *      Svk  30.500
Bodø/Glimt **            Nor  28.000
Ludogorets Razgrad *     Bul  26.000
CH **                    Cze  22.500 - 53.000
CH **                    Isr  18.000 - 35.500

CL-Q2 **                      11.500 - 51.500
CL-Q2 **                      11.000 ->46.000


Seeded clubs                   coef.             Unseeded clubs                 coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------    ------------------------ --- ----------------
Dinamo Zagreb **         Cro  50.000             .
Ferencváros *            Hun  35.000             .
.                                                .
.                                                .
.                                                Malmö FF **              Swe  18.500
.                                                APOEL Nicosia **         Cyp  14.500

Before the draw the club(pair)s of the 3rd round are divided into groups. See last year's UEFA Champions League 3rd qualifying round draw for more info.

(unseeded < 22.500, seeded > 50.000)
Unknown                        coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------
N2                       Sco  32.000 - 63.000
N2                       Bel  14.500 - 64.000
N4                       Fra  13.366 - 47.000
N3                       Ned  12.260 - 50.000

CL-Q2nc **                    31.500 - 53.000
CL-Q2nc **                    26.500 - 50.000
CL-Q2nc **                    22.500 - 36.000


Seeded clubs                   coef.             Unseeded clubs                 coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------    ------------------------ --- ----------------
Benfica                  Por  79.000             .
.                                                .
.                                                .
.                                                .

The draw for the play-off round is made before the results of the 3rd qualifying round are known. Pairs of clubs of the 3rd qualifying round are seeded by the highest ranking of the clubs involved.

Below it is assumed that high ranked teams of the 3rd round qualify for the play-off round. If other teams qualify some teams below may shift to a higher pot.

(unseeded < 33.000, seeded > 40.000)
Unknown                        coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------
Red Star Belgrade        Srb  40.000
Ferencváros *            Hun  35.000
CH                       Tur  31.500 - 36.000
CH                       Sui   8.000 - 34.500

CL-Q3 *3                      33.000 - 53.000
CL-Q3 *3                      30.500 - 51.500
CL-Q3 *3                      28.000 ->46.000
CL-Q3 *3                      26.000 - 35.500


Seeded clubs                   coef.             Unseeded clubs                 coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------    ------------------------ --- ----------------
Shakhtar Donetsk         Ukr  63.000             .
Dinamo Zagreb **         Cro  50.000             .
.                                                .
.                                                .
.                                                .

See last year's UEFA Champions League play-off round draw for more info.

(unseeded < 32.000, seeded > 63.000)
Unknown                        coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------
CL-Q3nc *3                    32.000 - 64.000
CL-Q3nc *3                    31.500 - 63.000
CL-Q3nc *3                    26.500 - 53.000

Seeded clubs                   coef.             Unseeded clubs                 coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------    ------------------------ --- ----------------
Benfica *3               Por  79.000             .
.                                                .

The 2024-27 period has a new format for the league stage. All 36 clubs play 8 matches against different opponents in a single league. For the purpose of the draw the clubs are divided into 4 pots. The CL title-holder is placed in pot 1. The remaining places of pot 1 and the other pots are filled according to the club ranking. Each club will be drawn against two opponents from each of the 4 pots, playing one match at home and one match away against them. Clubs from the same country will not be drawn against each other in the league phase and each team plays at most against a maximum of two opponents from any other country (providing a deadlock in the draw can be avoided).

Below it is assumed that high ranked teams of the play-off round qualify for the league stage. If other teams qualify some teams below may shift to a higher pot.

Unknown                        coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------
Aston Villa              Eng  20.860
FC Barcelona             Esp  91.000
Girona FC                Esp >17.847
N2-N4                    Esp >17.847 - 89.000
Bayer Leverkusen         Ger >90.000
VfB Stuttgart            Ger >17.324
AC Milan                 Ita  59.000
Bologna                  Ita >17.999
EPS                      Ita >17.999 -101.000
AS Monaco                Fra  24.000
N3                       Fra  13.366 - 47.000
PSV Eindhoven            Ned  54.000
Feyenoord                Ned  57.000
Sporting CP Lisbon       Por  54.500
CH                       Bel  14.500 - 64.000
CH                       Aut  14.500 - 50.000
Shakhtar Donetsk *4      Ukr  63.000
Dinamo Zagreb **         Cro  50.000

CL-POnc *4                    32.000 - 63.000

CL-PO *4                      40.000 - 53.000
CL-PO *4                      35.000 - 51.500
CL-PO *4                      33.000 ->46.000

EL-TH                        >79.000


Pot 1                          coef.             Pot 2                          coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------    ------------------------ --- ----------------
Manchester City          Eng 148.000             Juventus                 Ita  80.000
Bayern München           Ger>144.000             Benfica *3               Por  79.000
Real Madrid              Esp>134.000             Arsenal                  Eng  72.000
Paris Saint-Germain      Fra 116.000             .
Liverpool                Eng 114.000             .
Internazionale           Ita 101.000             .
Borussia Dortmund        Ger >97.000             .
RB Leipzig               Ger  97.000             .
.                                                .

Pot 3                          coef.             Pot 4                          coef.
------------------------ --- ----------------    ------------------------ --- ----------------
.                                                .
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The top 8 clubs of the league stage qualify directly for the round of 16, while the clubs at rank 9 to 24 go to the play-off round of the knock-out phase. The clubs that finish at rank 25 to 36 are eliminated.

The draw of the knockout play-off round (and also the draw for the round of 16) is made by pairs of clubs based on the ranking in the league stage. One of the clubs goes to the left side of the schedule and the other club goes to the right side. They can not meet again before the final. For details see below (image from UEFA Circular Letter No36: July 2023).

KO-stage draw

Clubs at rank 9 to 16 in the league stage are seeded in the knockout play-off round and play the second leg at home. Clubs at rank 1 to 8 in the league stage are seeded in the round of 16 and play the second leg at home. In the knockout phase there is no country protection.

CL league stage 9-16                              CL league stage 17-24
------------------------ --- ----------------    ------------------------ --- ----------------
.                                                .
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CL league stage 1-8                              winner of knockout round play-offs
------------------------ --- ----------------    ------------------------ --- ----------------
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KEY:

*	=	club started in 1st qualifying round
**	=	club started in 2nd qualifying round
*3	=	club started in 3rd qualifying round
*4	=	club started in play-off round
CL	=	Champions League
EL	=	Europa League
CO	=	Conference League
LS	=	League Stage
PO	=	Qualifying Play-off Round
Qx	=	Qualifying Round

Seeding in the Champions League 2024/2025

UEFA European Cup Football by Bert Kassies

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UEFA European Cup Football
by Bert Kassies