Infantino said the amount of money to be handed out at the '19 World Cup will be massively higher than in '15GETTY IMAGES
FIFA President Gianni Infantino "understands why female footballers are unhappy about the lack of gender equality in World Cup prize money but says doubling the cash for finalists" to $30M represents "significant progress," according to Rob Harris of the AP. Ahead of the FIFA Council on Friday ratifying the financial package for the '19 Women's World Cup, players' unions in Australia, Norway, Sweden and New Zealand "wrote to world soccer's governing body to raise concerns about why there is vastly more cash set aside for the men's showpiece tournament." Players from the USWNT also "called on FIFA to fulfill 'statutory obligations on gender equality' over the cash winnings." The men's World Cup "generates most of FIFA's billion-dollar income and it is reflected in the prize money." France earned $38M from FIFA for winning the men's World Cup in July. A source said that the women's champion next year in France will earn $4M, which is "twice the amount collected" by the USWNT in '15. On top of the $30M in prize money for the '19 Women's World Cup, FIFA will share $11.5M with the 24 teams for "tournament preparations, including training camps." The source added that another $8.5M will be "split by clubs releasing players." Infantino said the prize money is "massively higher than the last World Cup." Meanwhile, the USWNT in a statement through international players union FIFPro "urged FIFA to do even more to grow the women's game" (AP, 10/26).
