The upcoming European club competition season is very important for Latvian clubs, but why is that? Let me explain!
The upcoming UEFA competition season will be important for Latvian clubs looking at the future because of the upcoming changes in the club competition system. From the 2024/25 season onwards, UEFA will increase the number of teams participating in each tournament. While currently there are 32 teams competing in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League group stages (in total 96 teams), well as of next season there will be 36 teams in each tournament.
Latvia is currently ranked 35th in the UEFA coefficient, which determines the number of places and at what stage clubs from each member association enter the UEFA club competitions. The coefficient takes into account the performance of clubs from each association in European competitions over the last four years, including the ongoing season.
The final ranking at the end of the 2023-24 season will determine the minimum number of places for each association in the 2025-26 UEFA club competitions. The margin between Latvia and the 33rd-placed nation, Finland, is currently 0.375 in terms of coefficient points. This means that Latvia is very close to Finland in the rankings.
The difference in rankings has significant implications for the allocation of spots in the UEFA club competitions with the new rules and system in the 2024/25 season, Finland who is in the 33rd place will receive one additional UEFA Europa League spot, while Latvia is 35th will not have a spot in the UEFA Europa League qualification.
The points earned by Latvian clubs in the current competition season will contribute to the country's coefficient ranking. Each win earns the country one point, while a draw earns half a point, which is divided among all participating clubs from that country. Will provide an example. Valmiera FC gets the win against the Olimpija side on Tuesday. Valmiera earns 1 point for Latvia, but it has to be divided by four (the Latvian clubs representing Latvia in the UEFA competition), so Latvia will earn 0.250 coefficient points thanks to Valmiera win, while if Valmiera plays a draw against Olimpija on Tuesday, they will earn half a point, which again is divided by four and Latvia will get 0.125 to their account. Therefore, Latvian clubs must perform well in every game and earn points in the qualifiers.
Looking at the nations close to Latvia in the coefficient table, such as Liechtenstein, Ireland, Finland, Slovenia, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Northern Ireland, it is evident that their clubs' performances in the current season will also impact the final rankings. The outcome of matches involving Latvian clubs and their opponents from these nations will determine the distribution of coefficient points.
Overall, the current UEFA competition season is of utmost importance for Latvian clubs to secure as many points as possible and improve the country's coefficient ranking. This will influence the allocation of spots for Latvian clubs in future UEFA club competitions and determine the level of competition they will face. I’m going to sound like a broken record, but the 33rd-ranked nation in the UEFA coefficient which is Finland right now in the 2024/25 UEFA club competition season will be represented by one team in the UEFA Champions League qualification, one team in the UEFA Europa League qualification and two teams in the Conference League qualification. What’s the difference if we compare where Latvian clubs will compete in the 2024/25 UEFA club competition season? Well, Finland will get one additional UEFA Europa League spot, while Latvia won’t have a spot in the UEFA Europa League qualification, but the same old three spots in the UEFA Conference League qualification!
Let’s look at the nations who are close to us in the coefficient table and their teams who will participate in this year’s UEFA qualifiers and also who they will face in the QR 1 and possibly QR 2. We will need to keep an eye on these teams also.
As we look at the chart, the first qualifying round matchup between Valmiera against Olimpija is already super important in the race for TOP 33 and one more additional spot in the Europa League qualifiers.
So go luck to all the Latvian teams who will participate in this year’s competition. Valmiera FC, Riga FC, RFS and the rookies in this competition - FK Auda.