Fifa to miss equal Women's World Cup prize money ambition set by Infantino

Fifa will offer women's teams about $220m in prize money for 2027, roughly a third of the men's $655m pot, falling short of Infantino's 2023 equality pledge.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino pledged in 2023 that the organisation's "ambition" was gender equality in World Cup prize money by 2027, saying "Fifa is stepping up with actions, not just with words." However, the women's prize pot will be approximately $220m—double the $110m from 2023 but only about a third of the men's $655m, according to reporting by Sky News.

With 32 women's teams competing in Brazil next summer compared to 48 men's teams at this year's tournament, parity on a per-team basis would have required a women's pot around two-thirds the men's size. Senior female sources have described the decision as a "huge missed open goal" by Fifa, though some insiders privately praised the substantial increase. Fifa officials have spoken to leading female players to explain the decision, which is believed to reflect the commercial income the 2027 event is expected to generate.

Fifa did confirm that 2027 women's teams will receive the same preparation money as men's teams ($2.5m each, more than doubled), and players will be guaranteed business class or chartered flights and individual hotel rooms. No official confirmation is expected until December's Fifa council meeting.