How Much Do Clubs Earn? FA Cup vs EPL Prize Money
The English football calendar offers two very different cash streams: the prestigious knockout FA Cup and the marathon of the Premier League. Fans often wonder which competition lines their pockets better, especially when a mid‑table side reaches the later rounds of the cup. Below we untangle the numbers, highlight the quirks, and show how the two prize‑money structures really compare.
Why the Money Matters
For top‑flight clubs, broadcast revenue dwarfs most other income, but for lower‑division teams a single cup run can be transformational. Even Premier League sides eye the extra cash to fund transfers or upgrade facilities. Understanding the breakdown helps explain why a club might prioritize one competition over the other.
Basic Structure of the Rewards
Both competitions use a stage‑based payout system, but the timing and amounts differ considerably.
- FA Cup: Clubs receive a fixed sum each round they survive, plus a share of gate receipts when they host a match.
- Premier League (EPL): The prize pool is distributed after the season ends, based on final league position, plus “performance‑related” bonuses for wins and draws.
FA Cup – How the Money Flows
From the third round proper (when the big clubs join) to the final, the payouts for the 2023‑24 season looked like this:
- Third round entry – £27,500
- Fourth round – £35,000
- Fifth round – £47,500
- Quarter‑final – £95,000
- Semi‑final – £135,000
- Runner‑up – £375,000
- Winner – £780,000
On top of that, clubs keep 100 % of the gate receipts when they play at home, provided the stadium meets capacity criteria. For a lower‑league side drawing a Premier League giant, that can easily add another £200‑300 k.
What Happens If You Lose Early?
Even a first‑round exit still nets a modest £12,500, which for a National League team could cover a month’s wages. The “all‑or‑nothing” nature of the cup means each win feels like a mini‑bonus.
Premier League – The Seasonal Pay‑Day
The EPL splits its revenue into three main pots:
- Broadcast revenue – Around £2.5 billion shared equally, then adjusted for league position.
- Central commercial income – Sponsorship, merchandising, etc., again split with a position‑based tweak.
- Performance‑related payments – £1.48 million per win, £740 k per draw, plus a “merit” bonus for finishing in the top six.
At the end of the 2023‑24 season, the prize‑money ladder looked roughly like this:
- 20th (relegated) – £98 million total
- 10th – £117 million total
- 5th – £134 million total
- 1st (champion) – £150 million total
These figures already include the broadcast share, so the “prize‑money” label is a bit of a misnomer – it’s really the league’s overall financial distribution.
Extra Bonuses for European Qualification
Clubs finishing in the top four receive a further £5‑10 million boost from UEFA’s distribution of the Champions League pool. While not technically “EPL prize money,” the extra cash often influences budgeting decisions as much as the league’s own payouts.
Side‑by‑Side Comparison
| FA Cup | Premier League | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical payout for mid‑table club | £150‑200 k (reaching quarter‑final) | £115‑125 million (finishing 10th‑12th) |
| Top‑end prize | £780 k + gate receipts (winner) | £150 million (champion) |
| Impact on lower‑league side | Potentially season‑saving | None – no distribution below EPL |
| Cash flow timing | Round‑by‑round, immediate | End of season, lump sum |
In raw numbers the EPL dwarfs the cup, but the FA Cup’s staggered payments mean a surprise victory can swing a club’s finances dramatically in a single weekend.
Strategic Implications for Clubs
Managers and boardrooms weigh the financial upside against squad depth, fixture congestion, and injury risk.
- Top clubs often rotate players in early cup rounds, treating the competition as a prestige project rather than a money‑maker.
- Championship and League One teams may field stronger XIs, hoping a deep run offsets lower broadcast revenue.
- Relegated Premier League sides sometimes gamble on the cup to cushion the drop‑off, knowing the EPL’s broadcast share will shrink sharply.
What the Future Might Hold
Both competitions have hinted at reforms. The FA Cup could increase round‑by‑round payouts to make early‑round upsets more lucrative. Meanwhile, the EPL is discussing a modest “solidarity” contribution to lower leagues, which would indirectly affect clubs’ reliance on cup money.
Until such changes materialize, the basic calculus remains: the Premier League is the financial heavyweight, but the FA Cup offers a chance for a sudden cash windfall, especially for clubs that don’t share the league’s massive TV pot.
