Heart of Midlothian stands to earn over £17.5 million in prize money if they successfully qualify for the league phase of next season’s Champions League.
The Jam Tarts are ensured a spot in the qualifying rounds, and their precise starting point in the campaign will depend on their final position in the Scottish Premiership.
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A top-two finish in Scotland‘s top tier this season guarantees a place in the qualifying rounds. With one league match left—against each other—Hearts and Celtic will secure these two spots.
However, the team that clinches the title will enjoy a considerable advantage.
Hearts will face Celtic on the final day of the season at Celtic Park. A draw or win in this match would see Hearts claim their first league title since 1960, while Celtic will require a victory to secure their fifth consecutive title.
Winning the Premiership means participating in the final qualifying round, known as the play-off round.
Conversely, a second-place finish would lead to entry in the second qualifying round out of four.
The financial ramifications of these outcomes will be substantial for both clubs. Celtic recorded a club-high turnover of £143.6 million for the 2024-25 season, while Hearts’ revenue was considerably lower at £24.4 million for the same season.
Here, we explore the financial stakes for Hearts and Celtic, how the qualifying process works, and the implications of each potential outcome in July and August.
How Does Qualifying Work?
Hearts will participate in Champions League qualifying rounds for the first time in two decades, having never reached the main draw previously [Getty Images]
Uefa offers four qualifying rounds for its three main club competitions, with teams from each nation entering at different stages.
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For the upcoming season, Scottish clubs have access to five European slots, yet none guarantee direct entry into the Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League.
The team finishing second—either Celtic or Hearts—will start their qualifying campaign in July’s second qualifying round.
Teams must secure victories across two-legged ties to progress to the next round, continuing this process until the fourth and final qualifying round. A win at this stage ensures a spot in the league phase of the Champions League.
However, losing in any qualifying round would see the team relegated to a lesser competition.
For instance, losing in the second round of Champions League qualifying would drop Hearts or Celtic to the third round of Europa League qualifying.
Winning the last two rounds of Europa League qualifying would allow entry into that competition’s league phase; however, any defeat in those rounds would lead to a drop to the Conference League.
Exiting at the third round of Europa League qualifying means one additional qualifying match in the Conference League would be necessary for entry into the league phase. Alternatively, reaching the Europa League play-off round and then losing would directly grant a spot in the Conference League.
If a team entering the Champions League second qualifying round advances and subsequently loses in the third round, they would still automatically qualify for the league phase of the Europa League without needing a play-off round.
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Finances for the Champions League
Celtic’s lucrative journey to the Champions League play-off knockout round during the 2024-25 campaign resulted in record turnover [Getty Images]
Qualifying for the Champions League can yield around €20.2 million (£17.5 million) for Hearts and/or Celtic if they reach the league phase.
Most of this figure stems from the entry fee, supplemented by additional payments such as television revenue and performance-based shares based on league standings.
This baseline amount can increase significantly: every win in the league phase is worth €2.1 million (£1.8 million), while draws bring in €700,000 (£600,000).
This initial €20.2 million also includes over €1.3 million (£1.1 million) of television revenue allocated to the lowest-ranked UEFA club based on its value metric, which reflects each nation and team’s appeal to broadcasters.
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The club rated highest in the value pillar can receive up to €46.8 million (£40.6 million) just from television money during the league phase, making it crucial for teams to be ranked favorably to maximize their financial gains.
A team’s placement in the league phase significantly influences revenue as well.
For instance, the team finishing last among the 36 league phase teams will earn €275,000 (£238,000), with each higher finishing position receiving an additional €275,000.
Finishing in the top 24 and advancing to later rounds can yield even higher financial returns.
Furthermore, clubs receive €175,000 (£151,500) for every round of Champions League qualifying contested, which may increase to €525,000 (£455,000) if qualifying from the second qualifying round.
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Finances for the Europa League
There’s also significant financial opportunity tied to qualifying for the Europa League.
The minimum prize for reaching its league phase stands at €4.68 million (£4.06 million), which greatly increases to €8.97 million (£7.77 million) for those qualifying as a result of losing in the Champions League play-off round.
Similar to the Champions League, additional financial benefits are available based on league position and television revenue.
Minimum television income for the Europa League is set at €297,000 (£257,000), while the maximum can approach €10.7 million (£9.3 million).
During the league phase, clubs can earn €450,000 (£390,000) for each victory and €150,000 (£130,000) for each draw.
Every league position is worth €75,000 (£65,000). Additionally, teams that lose in the third round of Europa League qualifying receive an extra €175,000, while those that progress to the league phase due to playoff successes earn an additional €350,000 (£303,000).
Finances for the Conference League
Lastly, while UEFA’s Conference League represents the third tier for European club competitions, it still offers substantial financial rewards for teams that qualify.
Reaching the league phase guarantees a minimum of €3.17 million (£2.75 million) in prize money, television revenue, and performance-related earnings.
Each league position is valued at €28,000 (£24,000), alongside a minimum television revenue of €89,000 and a potential maximum reaching €3.2 million (£2.8 million).
In the league phase, every win is rewarded with €400,000 (£346,000), and draws fetch €133,000 (£115,000).
For the team placing second in the Premiership, there exists the risk of exiting qualifying matches in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League without qualifying for any league phase.
In such cases, Hearts or Celtic would receive €750,000 (£650,000) for elimination at this stage, in addition to €525,000 for competing across three different qualifying rounds.
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