FIFA to fall short of equal Women’s World Cup prize money target set by Infantino

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FIFA is set to fall short of its ambition to achieve equal prize money for the men’s and women’s World Cups, despite generating a record $15 billion (£11.2 billion) in revenue from this summer’s men’s tournament.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in 2023 that the governing body aimed to achieve prize money equality by 2027, declaring: “FIFA is stepping up with actions, not just with words.”

The pledge raised hopes that the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil would offer prize money comparable to the men’s tournament on a per-team basis.

With 48 teams competing in the men’s tournament and 32 in the women’s competition, a women’s prize pool of about two-thirds of the men’s $655 million would have represented parity.

However, the women’s tournament is expected to receive only about a third of the men’s prize fund.

Although the proposed increase would be substantial, one senior female source described the shortfall as a “huge missed open goal” by FIFA.

Some people familiar with negotiations in recent weeks have privately welcomed the increase. However, no decision is expected to be confirmed until FIFA’s Council meeting in December.

According to Sky News, the women’s prize pool is expected to double from $110 million in 2023 to $220 million in 2027. That would represent more than a seven-fold increase from the 2019 tournament in France.

By comparison, the men’s tournament offered $655 million in prize money this year, including $50 million for champions Spain.

Senior FIFA officials are understood to have spoken to leading female players to explain the decision and outline the organisation’s wider investments in women’s football.

The decision is believed to reflect the commercial revenue expected from the 2027 tournament.

Infantino has previously criticised broadcasters for offering insufficient payments for television rights to the women’s competition.

The 2023 Women’s World Cup attracted 933 million viewers on linear television and 895 million on streaming platforms, according to FIFA.

The final between England and Spain in Sydney reached a global live audience of 67 million and an overall audience of 222 million, FIFA said.

FIFA did not comment when contacted by The Guardian. However, sources at the governing body said further improvements to the women's club benefits programme were planned, alongside additional funds earmarked for players participating in the tournament.

It was confirmed this month that 2027’s Women’s World Cup teams will receive the same preparation money from Fifa as those who played at the men’s tournament. The preparation money has been more than doubled to $2.5m each.

Every player will be guaranteed business class or chartered flights, and their own hotel room rather than having to share, which Fifa says brings the provisions in line with the men’s World Cup.

Source: The Guardian