UEFA has unveiled the financial distribution plan for the 2025/26 Women’s Champions League, coinciding with a major format change that aligns the competition with the men’s tournament and introduces the Women’s Europa Cup.
Financial breakdown for the 2025/26 season
During the 2023/24 season, a total of €28.6 million was distributed to participating clubs. This figure is set to rise significantly in 2025/26, with a guaranteed minimum of €37.7 million, allocated as follows:
- 48.39% to clubs competing in the League phase
- 20.42% to clubs in the qualifying rounds
- 14.85% to clubs in the Women’s Europa Cup
- 16.34% to non-participating clubs
League phase payments
A total of €18.2 million will be distributed among the 18 teams in the centralised phase, split 50/50 between a fixed starting fee and performance-based rewards:
- €505,000 guaranteed per club
- €60,000 per win, €20,000 per draw
Teams will also receive payments based on their ranking, ranging from €10,000 to €180,000.
Qualifying round payments
A total of €7.7 million will be allocated to clubs competing in the qualifying rounds, which have expanded to three rounds, up from two in the previous format. The distribution is structured as follows:
- Round 1: €40,000 or €75,000
- Round 2: €40,000 or €80,000
- Round 3:
- €110,000 for teams that advance to the League phase
- €160,000 for teams eliminated in Round 3
Additionally, €6.2 million has been set aside for clubs that fail to qualify for the League phase or participate in the Women’s Europa Cup.
Women’s Europa Cup financial structure
With the launch of the Women’s Europa Cup, a new knockout tournament running from qualification to the final, UEFA has introduced a €5.6 million prize pool, distributed as follows:
- Qualification 1: €60,000
- Qualification 2: €65,000
- Round of 16: €70,000
- Quarter-finals: €75,000
- Semi-finals: €75,000
- Runner-up: €75,000
- Winner: €80,000
Interestingly, the Women’s Europa Cup winner will earn the same prize money as teams eliminated in Round 3 of WCL qualifying.
UEFA’s long-term commitment to women’s football
UEFA has made a strong financial commitment to the expansion of women’s club competitions, ensuring continued investment and growth. The €37.7 million prize fund for the upcoming season is sourced from:
- Competition revenues: €33.8 million
- UEFA investment: €11.3 million
- Men’s club competition subsidy: €25 million
- Competition costs: €32.4 million
The financial boost is largely driven by subsidies from the UEFA Champions League, reinforcing UEFA’s strategy to elevate women’s football on the European stage.