The Champions League offers staggering prize money.

Arsenal and PSG earned a lot of money in the Champions League this season.

Money has long been the lifeblood of modern football, and in Europe's most prestigious competition, the UEFA Champions League, that value is being pushed to enormous levels.

The 2025/26 season marks the second year the Champions League operates under an expanded format, and also sees its prize money continue to increase significantly, reaching €2.467 billion. This figure demonstrates the immense appeal of the top club competition.

More than just a battle for glory, the Champions League is now a goldmine that determines the ambitions and financial future of major clubs. Simply by qualifying for the qualifying rounds, each club is guaranteed a fixed income of €18.62 million by UEFA. This is just the "participation fee," as the real money depends on the team's performance and the commercial value it generates.

UEFA divides its funds into three main parts. Of these, 37.5% of the total fund, equivalent to 926.3 million euros, is allocated based on professional performance.

Teams earn money based on wins, draws, and their ranking in the qualifying rounds. A win is worth 2.1 million euros, while a draw brings in 700,000 euros. The further they progress, the more the prize money increases exponentially.

Furthermore, the "Value Pillar" mechanism is controversial but also reflects the reality of modern football. This €864.5 million fund is used to reward clubs that generate greater television appeal and commercial value than the rest. Teams like Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich, and Arsenal naturally benefit greatly from their enormous global viewership.

Arsenal would earn more money than PSG if they win the Champions League thanks to their perfect record in the qualifying rounds.

Therefore, reaching the Champions League final is not just a sporting success. Arsenal already pocketed around 73.8 million euros before the final against PSG. If they win the European title for the first time, the "Gunners" will raise their total earnings to over 80 million euros. Meanwhile, PSG have the opportunity to defend their title and have already earned nearly 68 million euros. They could easily surpass 74 million euros if they win.

That figure doesn't even include the enormous revenue from television rights, sponsorships, and matchday sales. Last season alone, PSG earned around 83 million euros from their Champions League victory, not including commercial revenue.

The Champions League is no longer simply a football competition. It's a battle for financial power, as every goal or victory is worth millions of euros. And in an era where football is dominated by money, participating in the Champions League is sometimes just as important as winning a title.

Source: https://znews.vn/tien-thuong-choang-ngop-o-champions-league-post1649519.html