The prize pool for the Champions League has grown by a third this season following changes to the competition format. The total fund now stands at £2.06 billion, up from £1.74 billion in the previous setup, as the tournament expanded from 32 to 36 teams.
Each club that qualifies automatically receives £15.7 million, regardless of their performance in the group stage. A win during the group phase brings in £1.8 million, while a draw is worth £590,000. Teams that finish in the top eight of the group stage, guaranteeing a place in the round of 16, will receive an additional £1.7 million.
As teams progress through the knockout rounds, UEFA rewards them with escalating amounts of prize money:
- 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 assured of over £38 million in prize money. Should they win the competition, they would earn a total of more than £83 million.
In comparison, Manchester United earned £3.9 million in prize money for their FA Cup win last summer.
Additionally, UEFA has introduced a new “value pillar” payment, which could provide clubs with an extra £10.5 million. This bonus is based on the club’s past success in Europe and the amount paid by their country’s broadcasters for Champions League rights.
As the Premier League season draws to a close, five clubs are battling for the final Champions League spots, with just six points separating them below leaders Liverpool and Arsenal with seven games left to play. Given England’s position at the top of UEFA’s coefficient rankings, the top five teams in the Premier League are expected to secure Champions League qualification.
Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Newcastle, Manchester City, and Aston Villa are the leading contenders for the remaining qualification spots, while Fulham and Brighton are still in the race but are less likely to secure a top-five finish. Tottenham and Manchester United, currently in the lower half of the table, are unlikely to finish in the top five but could still qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League. If this scenario occurs, there could be six Premier League teams in next season’s Champions League, with the top five not losing their spots.
