FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced that the prize money at the upcoming Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will be triple that at the last edition in 2019.

Infantino stated at the FIFA Congress in Kigali, following his re-election to a third term as president, that the total prize pool, including compensation for preparations and for clubs, would be $152 million.

This is an increase from $50 million in 2019 and $15 million at the previous Canadian tournament four years prior.

The Women’s World Cup in July and August will feature 32 teams, an increase from the 24 teams that participated in the 2019 tournament in France, which was won by the United States.

The amount is still dwarfed by the $440 million prize pool at the 32-team men’s World Cup in 2022.

Infantino stated that some broadcasters offered 100 times less to cover the women’s competition despite “very similar, maybe 20 percent lower” viewership numbers.

“If the broadcasters offer us 100 million for the men’s World Cup, they offer us one million or less for the women’s, and at the same time these same public broadcasters… criticise FIFA for not guaranteeing equal pay to men and women.

“Offer us 20 percent less, or 50 percent less, but not 100 percent less. Women deserve much, much more than that and we are here to fight for them and with them, but we need to fight together.”

The announcement of the increase in prize money was hailed by the global players’ union FIFPro, which said in a statement that “the progress announced today demonstrates the intent of the players and FIFA to work proactively towards greater equity and equality for the industry.”

Photo by EPA/Jalal Morchidi