Gianni Infantino, president of Fifa, has said soccer’s global governing body will exceed its promise to double the prize money for the 2023 Women’s World Cup to US$60 million.
In July, the president had confirmed Fifa would increase the prize pot for the 2023 tournament, marking a second successive Women’s World Cup where the financial rewards have doubled, but with the size of the tournament going from 24 team to 32 the rewards would not have been as significant.
“We have until 2023 to discuss about the prize money,” Infantino said. “I think we need to market it as well in a certain way. I’m very confident, I’m sure we can go higher than doubling.”
Despite Infantino’s commitment, Fifa has continued to face criticism for the disparity in pay between the women’s and men’s World Cups, with the latter’s prize money way ahead at US$440 million for the 2022 competition in Qatar.
Exactly by how much the prize money for the 2023 Women’s World Cup will surpass US$60 million has not been reported. But with the success of France 2019 prompting Fifa to push through an expansion of the competition, Infantino has acknowledged this year’s tournament “really marked a before and an after for women’s football.”
Infantino’s comments came as the United States women’s national team (USWNT) kicked off their victory tour, defeating Ireland 3-0 in front of more than 37,000 fans at the Rose Bowl in California.
The Women’s World Cup winners remain locked in a legal battle after filing a gender discrimination lawsuit against US Soccer over equal pay in March. A resolution still looks some way off after the federation’s president, Carlos Cordeiro, added fuel to the fire by claiming the women’s players were paid more than the men’s team between 2010 and 2018.
Gianni Infantino is ‘very confident’ the US$60 million offering will be surpassed for 2023.
Gianni Infantino, president of Fifa, has said soccer’s global governing body will exceed its promise to double the prize money for the 2023 Women’s World Cup to US$60 million.
In July, the president had confirmed Fifa would increase the prize pot for the 2023 tournament, marking a second successive Women’s World Cup where the financial rewards have doubled, but with the size of the tournament going from 24 team to 32 the rewards would not have been as significant.
“We have until 2023 to discuss about the prize money,” Infantino said. “I think we need to market it as well in a certain way. I’m very confident, I’m sure we can go higher than doubling.”
Despite Infantino’s commitment, Fifa has continued to face criticism for the disparity in pay between the women’s and men’s World Cups, with the latter’s prize money way ahead at US$440 million for the 2022 competition in Qatar.
Exactly by how much the prize money for the 2023 Women’s World Cup will surpass US$60 million has not been reported. But with the success of France 2019 prompting Fifa to push through an expansion of the competition, Infantino has acknowledged this year’s tournament “really marked a before and an after for women’s football.”
Infantino’s comments came as the United States women’s national team (USWNT) kicked off their victory tour, defeating Ireland 3-0 in front of more than 37,000 fans at the Rose Bowl in California.
The Women’s World Cup winners remain locked in a legal battle after filing a gender discrimination lawsuit against US Soccer over equal pay in March. A resolution still looks some way off after the federation’s president, Carlos Cordeiro, added fuel to the fire by claiming the women’s players were paid more than the men’s team between 2010 and 2018.
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