According to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the prize money for the Women's World Cup will be increased by 300% to $150 million.

 

The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup prize money will be increased by 300% to $150 million, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Thursday during the 73rd FIFA Congress in Kigali, Rwanda.

While the Women's World Cup prize money is now three times that of 2019 and ten times that of 2015, prior to Infantino's appointment as FIFA president, it remains significantly lower than the $440 million total prize money awarded at the men's World Cup in Qatar last year.

In his closing remarks at the FIFA Congress, Infantino announced the prize money, hailing a "historic journey for women's football and equality" that "will lead us to a path to equal pay."

"For the first time ever, I (plan to) dedicate a specific portion of this payment, which primarily has to go to football development, but a portion of that should obviously go to the players," Infantino said, announcing the second of his three-step plan.

Infantino stated that the first step will be "equal conditions and services for all men and women playing in a World Cup," referring to accommodations and flights.


Step three, he says, "will be the most difficult" and "will include a dedicated marketing strategy for the women's game."

"Our mission will be able to have payment equality for (the) 2026 men's and 2027 women's World Cups," Infantino said.

Last year, the United States Women's National Team (USWNT) earned more money ($6.5 million) than its male counterpart did by reaching the knockout stages of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

'Actions rather than words '

According to Reuters, Infantino also chastised broadcasters for offering between 10 and 100 times less money for the Women's World Cup than for the men's tournament.

"FIFA is taking action, not just words," he stated. "Unfortunately, this is not true for everyone in the industry. More must be done by broadcasters and sponsors."

Infantino also stated that FIFA will generate $11 billion in revenue by the end of the next fiscal cycle in 2026.

In a statement issued on Thursday, FIFPRO, soccer's global players' union, said it was pleased with FIFA's decision to increase prize money, which it described as a step toward "greater equity and equality" in the industry.

Australia and New Zealand will co-host the 2023 Summer Olympics.
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