FIFA Women's World Cup prize money increases 300%, but still far behind men's
Infantino angry with broadcasters for low offers on TV rights
The Women's World Cup is getting an increase in prize money of more than 300 per cent for this year's tournament.
The $152 million US fund for the first 32-team tournament — covering prize money, team preparation and payments to players' clubs — is a huge boost from the 24-team edition in 2019, and 10 times what it was in 2015.
Some of the $110 million in pure prize money should be dedicated to paying players, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Thursday in Rwanda after being re-elected by acclamation through 2027.
Players' union FIFPRO said Thursday it has challenged FIFA to secure a "global guarantee of at least 30 per cent of prize money" that is paid to players.
Controversial sponsorship proposal
FIFA also said the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand won't be sponsored by the Saudi Arabian tourism authority. Talks about a possible deal had caused unease among players and the tournament co-hosts.
Infantino called the dispute a "storm in a teacup" and said extending the Visit Saudi deal, which started at the men's World Cup in Qatar, was a discussion that "didn't lead into a contract."
"There is a double standard here which I really don't understand," the FIFA president said, aiming a barb at critics of the deal.
The Australian soccer federation said in a statement it welcomed FIFA clarifying the Visit Saudi speculation.
"Equality, diversity and inclusion are really deep commitments for Football Australia," chief executive James Johnson said, "and we'll continue to work hard with FIFA to ensure the Women's World Cup is shaped in this light."
'Women deserve much, much more'
Infantino also again expressed his anger with broadcasters for offering too little for TV rights. He said FIFA will not sell broadcast rights for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand at the prices currently being offered
"Women deserve much, much more than that and we are there to fight for them and with them," he said.
Infantino set a target of equal prize money for men and women at their next World Cups, in 2026 and 2027, respectively — a tough task when the 32 men's teams shared $440 million at last year's World Cup in Qatar.
The FIFA president angrily targeted broadcasters, some of them public service channels funded by taxpayers, who he said offered up to 100 times less for rights to the women's tournament.
Infantino first raised the issue in October in New Zealand, and insisted FIFA still would not sell at those prices with women's soccer drawing audiences perhaps 20-50 per cent less than for men's games.
"Well, offer us 20 per cent less, 50 per cent less. But not 100 per cent less," Infantino said in closing remarks to the FIFA Congress. "That's why we can't do it."
