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2026/2027 Europa League Prize Money Explained

The Europa League remains a significant competition in European football, sitting just behind the Champions League in prestige. Since the format change in 2024/25, which replaced traditional group stages with a League Phase, the tournament has gained new excitement early on.

European football is a major target for many top clubs, not only for glory but also for the substantial financial rewards involved. As the 2026/27 season unfolds, let's break down how much prize money teams can earn at each stage, relevant to fans of clubs like Crystal Palace, Celtic, Juventus, and AC Milan.

Prize Money by Round

The prize money depends heavily on how far a team progresses. The competition has seven distinct earning brackets, starting from qualifying for the League Phase to winning the final.

  • League Stage Qualification: Thirty-six teams enter the League Phase, either automatically or through qualifiers. Every team earns €4.31 million (£3.7m / $5m) just for qualifying.
  • Teams receive €450,000 (£385k / $524k) per win and €150,000 (£128.5k / $175k) per draw during this phase.
  • Additional rewards depend on final League Phase rankings: positions 1-8 get €600,000 (£514k / $700k), while places 9-16 take home €300,000 (£257k / $350k).
  • Knockout Play-offs and Round of 16: Out of 36, twenty-four teams advance, with eight play-off matches deciding the last sixteen. Any team reaching the play-offs secures €300,000 (£257k / $350k).
  • Winners of these play-offs earn an extra €1.75 million (£1.5m / $2m) for reaching the Round of 16.
  • Quarter-finals: The eight teams reaching this stage receive €2.5 million (£2.1m / $3m) regardless of further results.
  • Semi-finals: Teams that make it to the semi-finals are awarded €4.2 million (£3.6m / $4.9m).
  • Finalists: Each finalist gets €7 million (£6m / $8.1m) for participating in the final match.
  • Winner’s Bonus: The champion receives an additional €6 million (£5.1m / $6.9m) for lifting the trophy.

2026/27 Europa League Prize Money Summary

  • League stage qualification: €4.31m (£3.7m / $5m)
  • League stage draw: €150k (£128.5k / $175k)
  • League stage win: €450k (£385k / $524k)
  • Ranked 1-8 in League Phase: €600k (£514k / $700k)
  • Ranked 9-16 in League Phase: €300k (£257k / $350k)
  • Knock-out play-offs round: €300k (£257k / $350k)
  • Round of 16 qualification: €1.75m (£1.5m / $2m)
  • Quarter-finals qualification: €2.5m (£2.1m / $3m)
  • Semi-finals qualification: €4.2m (£3.6m / $4.9m)
  • Reaching the Europa League final: €7m (£6m / $8.1m)
  • Winning the Europa League: €6m (£5.1m / $6.9m)

How This Compares to Previous Seasons

The last season with traditional group stages was 2023/24, where wins and draws earned slightly more individually, and teams advancing gained at least £460,000 each time. Now, although individual match rewards seem smaller, the increased number of games spreads out the earnings.

Looking at knockout rounds, there's a clear rise in rewards compared to before: round of 16 qualifiers earn about £500,000 more; quarter-finalists get an extra £600,000; semi-finalists gain roughly £1.2 million more; and finalists see their earnings increase by over £2 million.

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