The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the 2016 Champions League winners prize money will double from US$1.5 million to US$3 million, with the 2016 AFC Cup cash for the winners also set to rise from US$350,000 in 2015 to US$1 million in 2016.
These significant increases – and other rises in both the Champions League and the AFC Cup – are being introduced after approval from the AFC Executive Committee at its meeting on November 27 in New Delhi, India.
“The increases in prize money in both the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup will further increase the appeal of these competitions. This is a significant boost and investment in the future of club football in Asia and will make competition for both continental titles even fiercer than before,” said AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John while opening a two-day Cub Competitions Workshop in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
In the AFC Champions League, clubs stand to earn over US$3,5 million in performance bonuses compared to the previous years. In addition to the eventual ACL winners receiving US$3 million in 2016, the award for the runners-up will also double to US$1.5 million. The semi-finalists will receive US$200,000, up from US$120,000.
In the AFC Cup, clubs can earn a total of US$2.1 million next year – an increase of US$1.5 million. The purse for the runners-up will double to US$500,000.
AFC Champions League
| STAGE | 2015(US$) | DIFFERENCEUS$ | 2016(US$) |
| Champions | 1,500,000 | + 1,500,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Runners-up | 750,000 | + 750,000 | 1,500,000 |
| Semi-finalists | 120,000 / club | + 80,000 / club | 200,000 / club |
| Quarter-finalists | 80,000 / club | + 40,000 / club | 120,000 / club |
| Round of 16 | 50,000 / club | + 30,000 / club | 80,000 / club |
AFC Cup
| STAGE | 2015(US$) | DIFFERENCEUS$ | 2016(US$) |
| Champions | 350,000 | + 650,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Runners-up | 250,000 | + 250,000 | 500,000 |
| Semi-finalists | – | + 40,000 / club | 40,000 / club |
| Quarter-finalists | – | + 25,000 / club | 25,000 / club |
| Round of 16 | – | + 15,000 / club | 15,000 / club |
