FIFA doubles cash for women’s teams
But inequalities remain with men’s field in Qatar to get $440 million
FIFA president Gianni Infantino says doubling the total prize money for women’s World Cup teams to $30 million is progress.
However, the total prize money will be $440 million for the men’s teams at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The FIFA Council on Friday ratified the financial package for the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, increasing the total prize money from $15 million. The U.S. women won at the 2015 World Cup.
Several players’ unions involving the U.S., Australia, Norway, Sweden and New Zealand raised concerns about the inequities to the world soccer governing body ahead of the council decision.
In a statement sent to The Associated Press by international players’ union FIFPro, the U.S. players urged FIFA to do even more to grow the women’s game.
“Substantial investment is required to overcome generations of inequality and discrimination in the game, to make football the world’s pre-eminent sport for women and girls,” the U.S. Women’s National Team Players’ Association said.
The winning women’s team at the 2019 World Cup will receive $4 million, an increase from $2 million split among the U.S. team in 2015. In July, the French men’s team received $38 million for winning the World Cup in Russia.
“Football remains even further from the goal of equality for all World Cup players regardless of gender,” world players’ union FIFPro said in a statement.
Infantino told the players he’s listening.
“Critical comments are perfectly justified because ... the unions and the players they defend their own interests, which is a fair point,” Infantino said.
“We need to try to find what is the most balanced way, and I think we made a step and there will be many more steps going ahead. Maybe one day women’s football will generate more than men’s football.”
FIFA announced it will make two new payments for the Women’s World Cup. FIFA will share $11.5 million with the 24 teams for tournament preparations, including training camps, and $8.5 million will be split by clubs releasing players.
The prize money for the men’s World Cup in Russia rose 12 per cent to $400 million. FIFA gave teams $48 million for preparation costs and also shared $209 million with clubs that sent players to the tournament — vastly larger sums than allocated to women’s soccer.
Infantino said it’s “a significant step in the right direction.”
“It’s massively higher than the last World Cup,” Infantino said.