As the first quarter of 2025 wraps up, the World Club Ranking remains largely stable—though the calm won’t last long. With decisive continental action coming in Q2, including Champions League finals across multiple confederations, expect fireworks in the next update.
Real Madrid remain on top globally, but their dominant lead might be in jeopardy. A heavy defeat to Arsenal in the UCL quarter-final first leg (already at the beginning of the next quarter) casts doubt on their reign. Could Barcelona take the crown? Unbeaten in 24 matches, a domestic and European double might just seal it—though their absence from the upcoming Club World Cup weakens their long-term outlook.
Manchester City’s early UCL exit sees their rating drop, and with the Premier League title slipping away (currently 5th, 21 points behind), they may tumble further. Liverpool, on the other hand, is no longer playing in the Champions League, but if it maintains its lead in the Premier League it will retain its position in the World TOP 5. Meanwhile, Arsenal, Bayern, PSG, and Inter, all remain in contention to climb, especially if they pair European runs with domestic success. So, City is likely to drop out of the TOP 5 in the second quarter, the question is, who in return?
Al-Hilal continues to dominate Asia, holding firm in the AFC Champions League Elite. Chased closely by Al-Nassr, the gap is narrowing—setting up a June showdown. Al-Ahli is rising fast, rebounding from their earlier relegation and now 6th in Asia.
Meanwhile, Korea’s Ulsan and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors struggle, with the former won only a single group match. In contrast, Japanese sides Yokohama and Kawasaki Frontale rise in continental play.
Buriram United from Thailand is a surprise package—still alive in both the ChL Elite and the ASEAN Championship, despite their domestic league’s low coefficient (see more in World Leagues Ranking).
In Oceania, Auckland City remains the perennial favorite, keep to top position the region again, invariably for several years.
CAF Champions League quarter-finalists include the usual suspects—Al-Ahly, Pyramids FC, Sundowns, and Espérance. RS Berkane remains a contender in the Confederation Cup, while former giants Wydad and TP Mazembe are slipping. Though still strong in their domestic leagues, both missed out on deep continental runs.
In CONCACAF, Mexican and U.S. clubs shuffle for dominance. UANL Tigres remains the most consistent performer, reaching Champions Cup advanced phase, once again.
Huge risers include:
Cruz Azul (+44 spots), now 6th in CONCACAF.
Vancouver Whitecaps (+111 spots), now 14th.
Inter Miami continues to rise steadily, beating LAFC in the quarter-finals, but hasn’t yet overtaken them in global rankings.
South America remains in early stages of its season, with Palmeiras still leading. Racing Club stunned Botafogo in the Recopa Sudamericana final, handing the Libertadores champions a 10-place drop and one-star rating loss—though Racing saw no boost due to poor domestic form.
The KA Club Coefficient decides, as a rule, about the quarterly position of a club in world club ranking (the KA Global Football Club Rating). This coefficient is calculated according to the formula:= (IC3 x 3 + Global League Coefficient x 2 + Domestic Club Coefficient x 1) / 6
The value of the coefficient can be increased according to positive results on the FIFA Club World Cup.
The factor IC3 shown in the formula is a combination of the Continental Index and the Continental Club Coefficient
Continental Index is a common term for the Power Index of Federation (PIF) & the Virtual Performance Index of Federation (VIF). Both are related to strength of the continent (continental federation/confederation) from the perspective of clubs and leagues (not national teams).
PIF & VIF combined with the Continental Club Coefficient give the Inter-Continental Club Coefficient (IC3).
Percentage number appeared above is the VIF.
Global League Coefficient (the KA League Coefficient) arises from the KA Global Football Leagues Rating determined twice for the season.
The KA League Coefficient can be find in rating table in the one column (four middle digits inserted in the KA Rate Code).
The percentage number appeared above is a result of the relation the KA League Coefficient assigned to a single league to the KA League Coefficient assigned to the first currently in the Rating: English Premier League with the coefficient of 1,612. For many leagues – the coefficient is the same, equal to the minimum coefficient (0,397). Only 18 leagues in the world have this index higher.
Continental Club Coefficient results from the KA Continental Club Rankings, which are calculated on the basis of the ELO Method.
The competitions which are taken into account are: Champions Leagues, Copa Libertadores and other, similar continental cups, including second tier competitions.
Continental Index combined with Continental Club Coefficient gives Inter-Continental Club Coefficient (IC3).
Percentage number appeared above is a result of the relation the IC3 assigned to the club to the IC3 assigned to the first club currently in the KA Continental Competitions Club Ranking, set for appropriate continent.
Domestic Club Coefficient (DC2) refers to the club’s current position in the league table. The team holding the first place in the table is assigned the value of the Max System Coefficient, the last team – the Minimum System Coefficient, and for the others the proportionally.
The MaxSystem and the MinSystem according to the Ranking of January, 2025, are respectively in the amount of:1.612 and 0.397.
In the final league table, teams relegated to lower league are not included, and at the same time the teams that have been promoted are taken into account. In the case where the league competition model provides for play-off / knockout matches or additional rounds – the league table is set for the needs of the KA Rating according to appropriate rules.
The percentage number appeared above is a result of the relation the Domestic Club Coefficient assigned to the club to the Domestic Club Coefficient assigned to the club holding currently first position in the domestic table.
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