The prize pool for the Champions League has seen a significant boost this season, rising by a third due to changes in the competition format. The total prize fund for the UEFA Champions League has now reached £2.06 billion, up from £1.74 billion in the previous season, following the expansion of the competition from 32 to 36 teams.
Each club that qualifies for the tournament automatically receives £15.7 million, regardless of how they perform in the group stage. If teams win matches in the league phase, they earn £1.8 million per victory, while a draw is worth £590,000.
For teams that finish in the top eight of the league phase, ensuring their place in the round of 16, UEFA awards an additional £1.7 million.
Prize money increases significantly as teams progress through the knockout stages. The amounts are as follows:
- Winner: £21.5 million
- Runner-up: £15.9 million
- Semi-finalists: £12.9 million
- Quarter-finalists: £10.7 million
- Round-of-16: £9.4 million
For example, even if Arsenal is eliminated in the quarter-finals against Real Madrid, they are guaranteed over £38 million in prize money. Should they go on to win the competition, their total prize earnings would exceed £83 million.
In comparison, Manchester United received £3.9 million for winning the FA Cup last season.
Additionally, UEFA has introduced a new “value pillar” payment system, which could add another £10.5 million to a club’s earnings. This bonus is based on a club’s past European success and the value of its country’s broadcasting rights for the Champions League.
With the Premier League season nearing its end, five clubs are in the hunt for the remaining Champions League qualification spots. With England leading the UEFA coefficient rankings, it’s expected that the top five Premier League teams will secure qualification. Currently, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Newcastle, Manchester City, and Aston Villa are the key contenders, with Fulham and Brighton also in the mix, though less likely.
Tottenham and Manchester United are not in contention for a top-five finish but still have a chance to qualify by winning the Europa League, which could result in six Premier League teams featuring in next season’s Champions League, without affecting the qualification of the fourth or fifth-place teams.
