With just one match left in the Champions League league phase, there is still plenty to play for when February 22 rolls around. Liverpool and Barcelona have only achieved two places in the top eight of the phase to get their direct tickets to the round of 16 and Other teams intend to join them.. There are also the changes to even reach the knockout stage, where six places are still up for grabs, but apart from that, there are big financial implications.
Previously, in the group stage, the top two teams in each group would advance directly to the round of 16 and then the third-placed team would advance to the Europa League playoff stage with a chance to reach the round of 16 of that competition. . Both of these things are no more: only the top eight advance directly to the round of 16 and the ninth through 24th participate in a playoff round to determine the other eight places in the round of 16.
While this gives teams more games to play, meaning more ticket revenue, it also changes the probability of teams reaching the last 16 and the financial windfall that comes with UCL football.
This is what they will earn depending on how far they go:
Prize money for advancing in the Champions League
According to UEFA:
|
Elimination Round Playoffs |
1 million euros |
|
round of 16 |
11 million euros |
|
Quarter finals |
12.5 million euros |
|
Semifinals |
15 million euros |
|
End |
18.5 million euros |
|
Additional bonus for UCL winners |
6.8 million euros |
*1 million euros = 1.04 million US dollars (as of January 23, 2025)
Added to this are the bonuses for qualifying for the league phase and the bonuses based on the results of that initial phase, which are 2.1 million euros for a victory and 700,000 euros for a draw. Clubs will also earn money from the value pillar, according to UEFA, which involves TV broadcasters’ contributions to total media revenue divided into shares and distributed based on coefficient rankings.
Being able to get funds like this and the possibility of continuing to advance in the competition for smaller teams is one of the objectives of the league phase and can be achieved depending on how the top eight progress. There is also the fight at the bottom to even reach the knockout stage, which includes European giants like Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain fighting for their lives.
There is a lot to play for on what is sure to be an exciting final day of the league stage. Move forward and that money will continue to increase as will the chances of taking home continental glory.