European football is more like a story of what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Every proper football club comes into the game with the ambition of winning titles- big titles.
The UEFA Champions League as well as the UEFA Europa League are the biggest stage in European football. Every player’s dream is to feature in one of these competitions especially the UEFA Champions League.
But, truth is, in football, it is always about the money. Clubs get financial compensation for even qualifying to play competitions like these which in turn trigger their ambition to always want more.
So back to the question, what is the financial difference between the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League?
In the table below, we’ll show you how much a club earns by advancing for every round. The winner’s total amount in prize money could reach €23.4 million.
| Round | Europa League Prize Money (Euros) |
| Group Stage participation | 3.63 million |
| Group Stage win | 0.63 million |
| Group Stage draw | 0.21 million |
| Group Stage winners | 1.1 million |
| Group Stage runners-up | 0.55 million |
| Round of 32 participation | 0.5 million |
| Round of 16 participation | 1.2 million |
| Quarter Finals participation | 1.8 million |
| Semi Finals participation | 2.8 million |
| Final participation | 4.6 million |
| Winners | 8.6 million |
| Maximum Total | 23.4 million |
Champions League Money Breakdown
| Round | Champions League Earnings (Euros) |
| Qualifying to the Group Stage | 15.64 million |
| Group Stage Win | 2.8 million |
| Group Stage Draw | 0.93 million |
| Reaching the Round of 16 | 9.6 million |
| Reaching the Quarter Finals | 10.6 million |
| Reaching the Semi Finals | 12.5 million |
| Reaching the Final | 15.5 million |
| Winning the Final | 4.5 million |
| Maximum Total | 85.1 million |
Europa League Money Breakdown
| Round | Europa League Prize Money (Euros) |
| Group Stage participation | 3.63 million |
| Group Stage win | 0.63 million |
| Group Stage draw | 0.21 million |
| Group Stage winners | 1.1 million |
| Group Stage runners-up | 0.55 million |
| Round of 32 participation | 0.5 million |
| Round of 16 participation | 1.2 million |
| Quarter Finals participation | 1.8 million |
| Semi Finals participation | 2.8 million |
| Final participation | 4.6 million |
| Winners | 8.6 million |
| Maximum Total | 23.4 million |
Champions League vs Europa League: Money
| Round | Europa League Prize Money (Euros) | Champions League Prize Money (Euros) |
| Group Stage participation | 3.63 million | 15.64 million |
| Group Stage win | 0.63 million | 2.8 million |
| Group Stage draw | 0.21 million | 0.93 million |
| Group Stage winners | 1.1 million | N/A |
| Group Stage runners-up | 0.55 million | N/A |
| Round of 32 participation | 0.5 million | N/A |
| Round of 16 participation | 1.2 million | 9.6 million |
| Quarter Finals participation | 1.8 million | 10.6 million |
| Semi Finals participation | 2.8 million | 12.5 million |
| Final participation | 4.6 million | 15.5 million |
| Winners | 8.6 million | 4.5 million |
| Maximum Total | 23.4 million | 85.1 million |
UEFA Champions League Performances by nation
| Nation | Titles | Runners-up | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 19 | 11 | 30 |
| England | 14 | 11 | 25 |
| Italy | 12 | 16 | 28 |
| Germany | 8 | 10 | 18 |
| Netherlands | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| Portugal | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| France | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Romania | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Scotland | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Yugoslavia | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Belgium | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Greece | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sweden | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Although the UEFA Champions League is juicier than the UEFA Europa League which is the second tier of European football, for some clubs, it is a dream to feature on the highest stage of European football, particularly for clubs who are not really financially buoyant. That is why is a bitter experience if your club fails to qualify for any of these competitions particularly the UEFA Champions League.