Sweden and its Allsvenskan clubs are closing a successful 2024, highlighted by Djurgården qualifying for the UEFA Europa Conference League Round of 16, while the dream of advancing to the knockout stages remains alive for both IF Elfsborg and Malmö FF in the UEFA Europa League. Based on this summer’s and fall’s international competitions, Sweden is ranked eighth in UEFA’s league rankings.

Sweden’s score of 9.375 on UEFA’s league ranking is the best the country has achieved in many years. Since the international season began with qualifiers last summer, only England, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, Germany, and France have outperformed Sweden. In the overall rankings based on the last five seasons, Sweden is currently ranked 21st, three spots higher than before the new league phase began in late August.

The summer’s qualifiers earned Sweden 4.250 points in the rankings, and since then, Djurgården, IF Elfsborg, and Malmö FF’s successes have added over 5.000 points. As of now, Djurgården, with four wins and one draw, has secured a spot in the Round of 16 of the Conference League. IF Elfsborg’s two wins and one draw keep them in contention for the Europa League knockouts, while Malmö FF, with one win and one draw, also remains in the hunt for Europa League progression.

241212 Timothy Noor Ouma and Ahmed Qasem of Elfsborg celebrate after the Europa League match between Elfsborg and Qarabag on December 12, 2024 in Borås. Photo: Jörgen Jarnberger / BILDBYRÅN / COP 112 / JJ0423

For IF Elfsborg and Malmö FF, the final two matches of the new league phase await in January. IF Elfsborg will face OGC Nice at home and Tottenham Hotspur away, while Malmö FF will play Twente at home and Slavia Prague away.

Djurgården will begin their Conference League knockout campaign in March 2025.

241212 Gabriel Busanello, Erik Botheim, Sergio Pena and Isaac Kiese Thelin of Malmö FF celebrate after 2-2 during the UEFA Europa League football match between Malmö FF and Galatasaray on December 12, 2024 in Malmö. Photo: Petter Arvidson / BILDBYRÅN / kod PA / PA0940

Facts About UEFA’s League Rankings:

The league ranking is based on the results of the last five seasons in European competitions. A higher ranking allows leagues to qualify more teams for European competitions or to start their qualification campaigns at later stages. A ranking of 15th or higher ensures more teams qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

UEFA League Rankings, December 2024:

  • 19th: Croatia – 26.525
  • 20th: Cyprus – 25.662
  • 21st: Sweden – 25.125
  • 22nd: Serbia – 25.100
  • 23rd: Ukraine – 23.400

Sweden’s Points Over the Last Five Seasons:

  • 2020/2021: 2.500 (No team in the group stage)
  • 2021/2022: 5.125 (Malmö FF reached the Champions League group stage)
  • 2022/2023: 6.250 (Malmö FF and Djurgården reached group stages; Djurgården advanced to the knockout stage)
  • 2023/2024: 1.875 (BK Häcken reached the Europa League group stage)
  • 2024/2025: 9.375 (Malmö FF and IF Elfsborg still in contention for Europa League knockouts; Djurgården secured a Round of 16 spot in the Conference League).