Cyprus could reach 15th place overall
Cyprus could reach 15th place overall
It has been an impressive year for Cypriot clubs on the European stage, as they have propelled Cyprus to 4th place in this season’s UEFA country rankings, ahead of football powerhouses such as France, Italy, and Spain.
At the same time, Pafos FC continues to make history in its maiden appearance in the Champions League League Phase, celebrating its first-ever victory in the competition with a 1–0 win over Villarreal. Pafos now has 5 points and remains in contention for qualification among the top 24 teams.
Meanwhile, AEK Larnaca has a perfect record in the Conference League, with two wins from two matches against AZ Alkmaar and Crystal Palace (in London), while Omonia has recorded one draw and one defeat in the same competition.
Since the start of the season, the four Cypriot clubs have accumulated more points than teams from nations with a long footballing tradition, lifting Cyprus to 4th place in the UEFA rankings — a position that, if maintained, could secure an additional Champions League berth for next season.
The fourth Cypriot representative, Aris Limassol, was eliminated in the Conference League qualifiers by AEK Athens, but still contributed to the overall points tally.
Only Portugal (about 50 points ahead), Germany (+250), and England, which added over 1,200 points last week thanks to its clubs’ results, are currently above Cyprus.
In the race for 15th place
Following Pafos’s historic victory over Villarreal, Cyprus has reached 31.287 points. With this score, Cyprus currently ranks 17th, just behind Switzerland (32.500) and Austria (32.250).
Given these standings, Cyprus could climb to 15th place, a position that grants an additional European qualification spot for the 2027–28 season and a second representative in the Champions League.
