Promise kept. A step forward towards gender equality in football. In view of Women’s World Cup scheduled in Australia and New Zealand from 20 July to 20 August, FIFA establish cash prizes to be awarded to the players of the 32 participating national teams. This is an unprecedented figure: more than half of the prize pool is from $110 million in fact, it will be intended for players, each of whom will be entitled to at least 30 thousand dollars.
Solution FIFA delivers on the prize money promise made in March last year: “We’re investing heavily in women’s football and guaranteeing players prize money for the first time.” We still have a long way to go to close the gender pay gap, but number one in world football, Gianni Infantinohas set a goal to ensure equal prize money for men and women at the upcoming world competitions in 2026 and 2027 respectively.
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Prize-winning places have tripled compared to the 2019 Women’s World Championship.
In 2019, the first golden ball in the history of women’s football was won by a Norwegian. Ada Hegerbergdecided not to participate world Cup in France to protest the disparity in wages between male and female football players. Then the choice of an American went around the world Megan Rapinotwo-time world champion, did not sing the anthem in the match against Thailand, openly speaking out against the ideas of gender equality of the then US President Donald Trump, who didn’t take it well: “I don’t think it’s an appropriate gesture. She should be proud of the flag she wears.”
Four years later, something has changed. Figure $110 million in fact, this is more than three times the prize pool – 30 million – paid out FIFA during the last World Cup.
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How is the prize fund of the Women’s World Cup divided?
The innovation is to reserve a portion of the prize pool to reward each player, rather than allowing member federations to use the endowment – at least $1.56 million for each national team – as they see fit. Players eliminated in the group stage will receive $30,000. 60 000 for girls attending round 16, 90 000 For premises, 165 000 for those who stop semi-final. Prize for third place and from 180 thousand dollarsBye, For the final, winners get 270 thousand dollars every, 195 thousand That runner-up.
16 countries who advances from the group stage will receive a total of 2.25 million dollars from FIFAwho will reward 10.5 million there winning nation titles. The majority of this amount, $6.21 million, will be distributed to the players, with the remaining $4.29 million going to the federations. In addition to the “performance-based fund” (US$110 million) for participating countries, the International Federation will distribute $30.7 million to prepare for the tournament e 11.5 million for clubs that will release their athletes called up to the national teams. A total of 152 million, more than three times (50 million) the previous World Cup and ten times the amount allocated in 2015 in Canada.
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Comparison to the 2022 Men’s World Cup.
The prize fund of the richest World Cup in history, held last December in Qatar, amounted to $440 millionThe budget has increased by 20% compared to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and almost four times more than provided for the women’s counterpart. L’Argentina commanded by MessiHow tournament winnercollected approx. 43 million. For teams staying on groupshowever the prize was 10.5 millionwhich is almost five times the amount awarded to women’s teams for the same event.
Another difference concerns the distribution of individual prizes. In the case of the men’s national teams, the millions were not necessarily divided equally among all 26 players. The choice of distribution was left to the respective federations.
Gianni Infantino: “The right reward for the efforts of female players”
“With this unprecedented new distribution model, every player in Women’s World Cup 2023 can now expect to be fully rewarded for their efforts throughout the tournament,” explained the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino. “The captain who ends up lifting the trophy on August 20 in Sydney will receive $270,000, as will each of her 22 teammates.”
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“The global salary of professional football players is around $14,000 per year, so the amounts paid under this unprecedented new distribution model will have a real and significant impact on the lives and careers of these football players.” “In addition, all member associations will receive record-breaking financial payouts based on their performance, which they can use to reinvest in football in their countries and which we believe will help take women’s football further,” concluded the world’s number one football player. The news is welcome FifPro players unionwho in March challenged FIFA to guarantee a “global guarantee” that 30% of the prize money went to female players.