How much prize money do clubs get for qualifying for the UCL semi-finals?

With finance being so important to a club’s success, we look at what economic rewards are on offer from UEFA to those that reach the final four.

The UEFA Champions League is considered the most prestigious club competition in European soccer, and the greatest in the world, with clubs across the continent in a mad scramble to qualify each season for both on and off-field reasons. Real Madrid, Manchester City and Barcelona have already significantly boosted their coffers for their performances in this season’s tournament, and all teams can now see more rewards by reaching the final four.

On the one hand, everyone wants to be in with a chance - realistic or not - of being crowed European champions, a relatively exclusive club given the number of teams that have tried and failed to do so.

On the other, the prize money on offer, which has steadily increased with time, is a huge draw. In recent years, the race to finish in the “top four” in leagues such as the Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A has garnered almost as much media attention as the battle for the title itself. Qualifying for the Champions League has become essential as competing clubs look to stay one step ahead of - or at least keep pace with - their rivals.

Every club that qualifies for the group stage is handed €15.64 million ($16.77 million), while they have the chance to add to that figure once they get there. As well as three points, €2.8 million ($3 million) is the prize for winning a match in the group stage, with one point and €930,000 ($997,335) on offer for a draw.

The cash prize for reaching different knock rounds increases the deeper clubs go in the tournament. Those who reached the current round of this year’s tournament, the quarter-finals, bagged an