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Champions League 2025–26 Prize Money: How Much Do Teams Earn?
The UEFA Champions League stands as the pinnacle of European soccer.
Win it, and teams don’t just get their hands on a big, shiny trophy and a place in the history books—they also pocket a hefty sum of money for their efforts.
But it's not just the champions who cash in. Prize money is available at every stage of the competition, meaning that for smaller clubs without the resources of Europe's elite, simply qualifying can provide a massive financial boost.
So, exactly how much money is up for grabs in the Champions League? Let's break it down.
Champions League 2025–26: Total Prize Pool
For the 2025–26 Champions League, the total prize money allocated is €2.5 billion (£2.2 billion, $2.9 billion), which is 74.4% of the funds dished out to teams competing in UEFA competitions for the season—although €9 million (£7.8 million, $10.5 million) of that sum was given to Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur for competing in the UEFA Super Cup.
€30 million (£25.9 million, $35 million) was handed out to the sides that were eliminated in the qualifying play-off round, with those who progressed to the league phase not earning any of that sum.
The prize pool for the league phase and beyond is divided into three categories: equal shares, performance-based rewards, and the value pillar.
Equal shares ensure that every team that qualifies for the league phase earns a guaranteed share of the prize money and performance-related payments mean that clubs are rewarded for positive results and progression throughout the competition.
The value pillar, meanwhile, allocates funds based on factors such as market size and broadcasting rights, allowing teams with larger fan bases or from more lucrative markets to claim a bigger slice of the pie.
Champions League 2025–26 Prize Money by Stage
Through the equal shares payment, all 36 participating clubs will pocket a guaranteed €18.6 million (£16.1 million, $21.7 million) simply for reaching the 2025–26 league phase of the Champions League.
Throughout the league phase, clubs will be earning money based on their performances. Each victory brings with it €2.1 million (£1.8 million, $2.5 million) and every draw secures €700,000 (£604,000, $817,000), while teams will also be rewarded for their final league phase finish.
Each position in the table is worth one ‘share’, which equates to €275,000 (£237,300, $320, 800). For example, the team that finishes in 36th will earn just €275,000, while the table toppers will claim €9.9 million (£8.5 million, $11.5 million). Any undistributed money from draws left over from the league phase will increase the value of each ‘share’.
On top of earnings from league phase ranking, clubs placed one to eight in the table will earn an extra €2 million (£1.7 million, $2.3 million) and clubs that finish ninth to 16th will secure an added €1 million (£862,800, $1.2 million).
In the knockout phase, clubs will be rewarded for their progression through the various rounds. Here's a breakdown of how these rewards are distributed:
Stage | Prize Money |
|---|---|
League Phase Draws | € 700,000 (£604,000, $817,000) |
League Phase Wins | €2.1 million (£1.8 million, $2.5 million) |
Reaching Knockout Play-off Round | €1 million (£862,800, $1.2 million) |
Reaching Round of 16 | €11 million (£9.5 million, $12.8 million) |
Quarter-finalists | €12.5 million (£10.8 million, $14.6 million) |
Semi-finalists | €15 million (£12.9 million, $17.5 million) |
Runner-up | €18.5 million (£16 million, $21.6 million) |
Winner | €25 million (£21.6 million, $29.2 million) |
Value Pillar Distribution
The Value Pillar of the 2025–26 Champions League prize money accounts for 35% of the overall pool, totaling €853 million (£736.4 million, $995.4 million)
It consists of two parts: European shares and non-European shares. Each club receives a portion from these categories.
For European shares, clubs are ranked based on their country’s broadcast market value and their performance in UEFA competitions over the past five years. Meanwhile, non-European shares are distributed according to the ten-year UEFA coefficient ranking of the 36 participating clubs.
Potential Maximum Earnings for the 2025–26 Champions League Winner
Theoretically, the maximum amount the winner of the 2025–26 Champions League could take home, excluding their share of the Value Pillar, would be approximately €110.8 million (£95.6 million, $129.2 million). This is due to the cumulative nature of performance-based prize money in the competition.
To reach this prize total, a club would need to win all eight of its league phase matches, top the league phase standings and then proceed to win the trophy.
However, the final sum could change depending on the value of each position ‘share’ at the end of the league phase, which cannot yet be confirmed.
How Prize Money Impacts Clubs
The prize money from the Champions League is highly valuable for clubs of all sizes.
For smaller clubs that may not progress as far, the earnings can still make up a significant portion of their annual budget. This money can be used to improve facilities, enhance academies and training grounds, and sign new players.
For larger clubs, the financial impact is even greater. Winning the competition provides a substantial cash boost, which can be reinvested in acquiring top-tier talent to strengthen their squad and improve their chances of future success.
UEFA's revamped Champions League has been designed to reduce the disparity in earnings between clubs, ensuring a more even distribution of prize money across all competing teams. This new structure helps smaller clubs benefit more from their participation, while still rewarding the top performers.
Examples of Prize Money Impact in Recent Years
In the 2022–23 season, Manchester City earned around $142.5 million (£110 million) for winning the Champions League, a sum that, combined with their Premier League victory, gave the club a significant financial boost.
At the other end of the spectrum, French outfit Brest made their Champions League debut in 2024–25, winning four out of eight league phase games to reach the round of 16. They earned a solid $37.3 million (£28.8 million)––nearly half the value of the entire club at the time.
At the beginning of 2025, the club revealed plans for a new 15,000-seat stadium, Arkéa Park, which is set to replace the outdated Stade Francis-Le Blé—which is over 100 years old and couldn't be used in the Champions League due to not meeting UEFA's criteria.
Surprise qualifiers and debutants such as Kazakhstan’s Kairat and Cyprus’s Pafos are set to profit from the vast sums on offer in the 2025–26 Champions League.
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Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider. Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.