Global Club Rating – Summary of the 1st Quarter 2026
Summary of the KA Football Club Global Rating – 1st Quarter 2026. PSG remains at the top of the global ranking, but the gap to Arsenal, Bayern and Real Madrid has narrowed significantly. The race for the number one spot is now tighter than ever, with several European giants performing at a similar level. With decisive stages of continental competitions ahead, the balance of power could soon shift.
Summary of the First Quarter of 2026
Most of the top domestic leagues remain relatively stable, meaning that the key changes in the global ranking are primarily driven by results in continental competitions.
At the top, Paris Saint-Germain remains the global leader and a leading contender for the UEFA Champions League title. Despite finishing outside the top 8 in the league phase, PSG found top form in the knockout stage—most notably in the Round of 16, where they convincingly defeated Chelsea 8–2 on aggregate. Their return to the top of Ligue 1 also helped secure their position. However, their advantage at the top is gradually shrinking.
Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich—all Champions League quarter-finalists—have further closed the gap between each other. At this stage, their rating values are so close that they can be considered virtually equal, while all three have also moved closer to PSG.
Barcelona has returned to the global top five, largely due to Inter Milan’s elimination in the Champions League play-off stage.
🌏 Asia
In Asia, Saudi clubs have strengthened their dominance. A paradoxical situation has emerged: the East Asian clubs that reached the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals are not currently strong enough to challenge the Saudi leaders. Neither Kawasaki Frontale nor Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors participated in this year’s Elite competition.
Japanese clubs such as Machida Zelvia, Vissel Kobe, and Sanfrecce Hiroshima have delivered solid performances, but still lack sufficient international rating points to compete at the very top.
It is also important to note that several Round of 16 matches in West Asia have been postponed due to the USA–Iran conflict. If these matches are completed, the advantage of Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal could increase even further.
🌍 Africa
Africa remains stable at the top. The leading four—Al-Ahly SC, Mamelodi Sundowns, Espérance ST, and Pyramids FC—all reached the CAF Champions League quarter-finals.
However, a key development is that Egyptian clubs failed to reach the semi-finals, potentially opening the door for a new continental leader by the end of Q2.
A notable rise comes from Morocco’s AS FAR, which climbed to fifth place after reaching the semi-finals.
🌎 South America
In South America, Palmeiras has regained the top position, largely due to Flamengo’s unexpected defeat to Lanús in the Recopa Sudamericana.
🌎 North & Central America
The CONCACAF Champions Cup has begun, and early results are already impacting the rankings. Among the previous top five clubs, only Cruz Azul and Seattle Sounders FC reached the quarter-finals, while Inter Miami, UANL Tigres, and Vancouver Whitecaps were eliminated in the Round of 16.
This allowed Cruz Azul to maintain its position as regional leader, while Seattle moved into second place. Another quarter-finalist, Los Angeles FC, has entered the top five in the CONCACAF ranking.
🌊 Oceania
Oceania saw one of the most interesting developments this quarter with the launch of the new OFC Professional League, supported by FIFA.
The competition features a largely experimental format, with many clubs created specifically for this tournament rather than competing in traditional domestic leagues. This has already impacted the rankings: among the top 1000 clubs globally, new entrants include Bula FC (Fiji), Solomon Kings, Vanuatu United, as well as professionalized teams such as Tahiti United (linked to Vénus) and South Island United (Christchurch).
🇪🇺 European Mid-Tier Developments
Among mid-tier European clubs, two important regional shifts occurred.
In the Nordic zone, Bodø/Glimt—one of the standout teams of the current European season—has overtaken FC København.
In the South Slavic–Balkan zone, Crvena Zvezda has claimed the top spot, surpassing its long-time regional rival Dinamo Zagreb.
📊 Additional Factors
Changes in league coefficients, announced in January as part of the Global League Ranking, also influenced club ratings. Notable increases were recorded for leagues such as Turkey, Brazil, and Argentina.
Regions & Zones
Country Clusters
The club ranking is based on three factors: the club’s rating based on the ELO continental ranking referring to international club competitions (such as the Champions League or other continental cups) where the ELO method is used, the club’s national standing based on the current league tables, and the league’s rating specified based on the Global Leagues Ranking.
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