Fall in UEFA rankings

Austria’s European Cup exit has unpleasant consequences

Sturm Graz was the last Austrian team to bow out of the European Cup on Thursday.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Following the European Cup exit of Sturm Graz as the last domestic representative, Austria has lost another fixed place for the 2025/26 season. After finishing 13th in the UEFA five-year ranking, the ÖFB clubs will not only lose their only fixed place in the Champions League. The Cup winners and league third-placed teams will also no longer at least start in the Conference League group stage, but will have to qualify.

Scotland (10th / fixed place in the CL, 36,050), the Czech Republic after a dream season (11th / 35,800) and Switzerland (12th / 32,975) are now ahead of Austria (32,600). In the worst-case scenario, Greece (17th) could also slip past. There is no difference between 13th and 14th place. From 16th place, the fifth European Cup starting place would be gone. Austria's representatives Salzburg, Sturm, LASK, Rapid and Austria have scored a total of just 4.8 points this season, which corresponds to 22nd place in the one-year ranking. The last time fewer points were scored was in 2015/16. The 4.9 points scored in 2022/23 also corresponded to a meagre haul.

Champions definitely in the top flight
In the coming season, when the European Cup reform takes effect, the domestic champions will definitely still be in the Champions League group stage. The runners-up will also start in the second of four qualifying rounds for the "premier class". The ÖFB Cup winner - or the third-placed team in the league if the Cup winner finishes in the top two - enters the Europa League play-off. There are further places for Austria in the second qualifying round of the Europa League and the Conference League.