UEFA Shares €13M With Underperforming Portuguese Football Clubs in 1st & 2nd Divisions

Portuguese football clubs outside the European spotlight are about to see their bank accounts swell. More than €13 million in UEFA solidarity funds will shortly flow from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) to teams that missed out on continental competition in 2024-25, delivering a record pay-out and a shot of financial stability to some of the country’s most tradition-rich but cash-strapped institutions.

What the money is — and why it exists

The solidarity mechanism is UEFA’s way of sharing a slice of Champions League, Europa League and Conference League television revenue with clubs that do not reach the group stages. For the current commercial cycle the share reserved for non-participants jumped from four to seven percent of gross income, after Europe’s elite agreed in 2023 to a fairer redistribution model. The FPF acts as the clearing house for Portugal, handling the transfer once the sums arrive from Nyon.

A windfall for 13 Primeira Liga sides

In the top tier, thirteen clubs that sat out Europe last season will each pocket €578,384.62 - for a total of over €7.5M - money that, for many, covers a sizeable chunk of their annual wage bill. Santa Clara, Famalicão, Estoril Praia, Casa Pia, Moreirense, Rio Ave, Arouca, Gil Vicente, Nacional, Estrela da Amadora, AVS, Farense and Boavista are on the list. The so-called ‘Big Three’ (Benfica, Porto, Sporting) plus Braga and Vitória de Guimarães are excluded because they played in UEFA competitions and already earned their own prize money.

Second Division clubs already paid

The FPF has gone a step further for the Liga Portugal 2, distributing €6.119 million among all 16 second-division outfits earlier this spring. Each side received €382,437, a figure unheard-of at that level in Portugal and crucial for balancing books dominated by travel, stadium upkeep and youth-academy costs. Reserve teams of Benfica and Porto were skipped, in line with UEFA rules that block double-dipping inside the same corporate structure.

Portugal tops the ‘Competitive Balance’ table

UEFA calculates every country’s slice according to television markets and on-field performance. Portugal has emerged as the biggest single beneficiary of the new Competitive Balance Share, edging the Netherlands and Belgium, a reflection of strong recent showings by Portuguese clubs and the Liga’s international audience. For newcomers to the country, this means local weekend fixtures should feel more competitive, with mid-table sides finally able to retain talent instead of selling at the first overseas bid.

Why newcomers and expats should care

If you have adopted a Portuguese side as your own — or simply enjoy a Saturday by the Douro or the Algarve watching live football — this cash injection could translate into better stadium experiences, more home-grown players sticking around and a tighter league table. It also lessens the financial gap between the giants and the rest, preserving the underdog stories that make the domestic game compelling for residents and long-term visitors alike.

The road ahead

The UEFA cycle runs until 2027, so today’s record distribution is unlikely to be a one-off. Should broadcast income stay robust and Portuguese clubs continue to punch above their weight in Europe, solidarity cheques may keep climbing. In practical terms, that could secure renovations at ageing grounds, fund women’s teams, and reinforce youth academies that produced stars such as João Félix and Rúben Dias. For the moment, club accountants are breathing easier — and supporters across the country have one more reason to believe their team’s best days might still be ahead.