Entering a new commercial rights phase, the South American confederation Conmebol has increased prize money across its club competitions to $300 million. The winner of the flagship club competition, the Copa Libertadores, can now earn as much as $28 million.
The $300 million prize money distribution will be shared across the Copa Libertadores, the Copa Libertadores Feminina, the Copa Sudamericana and the Recopa. The Copa Libertadores will see a 21% increase in prize money.
In total $207.8 million will be distributed, including an additional $300,000 per group stage win. In 2023, a club will be able to bank up to $4.8 million in the group stage. With the increase across the competition, Conmebol claims that the Copa Libertadores will become the third-highest paid club competition in the world.
That additional proze money translates to $100,000 per match in the first phase of the Copa Sudamericana, the second-tier club competition and South American equivalent of the Europa League. Conmebol will pay out up to $77.8 million in the competition, a 30%.
Conmebol is also paying attention to the women’s club game with the Copa Libertadores Feminina seeing a 68% increase in prize money, up to $3.35 million for 2023.
The windfall comes on the back of Conmebol increasing license fees and partners for the rights for the 2023-2026 cycle with Globo, ESPN and Paramount, the rights holders in Brazil, the main market in South America. Streaming service OneFootball secured a highlights package. SBT, ESPN and Paramount will broadcast the Copa Sudamericana.
Conmebol boosts club competition prize money to $300m