Prize money for the women's event will increase from the $15M shared among 24 teams in '15GETTY IMAGES
In a concession to women's football, FIFA will "start funding business-class flights for some of the Women's World Cup teams traveling to France for next year's tournament," according to Graham Dunbar of the AP. FIFA Head of Women's Development & Governance Emily Shaw said that total prize money will also "significantly increase" from the $15M shared among 24 teams at the '15 tournament. She added that the total sum will be "confirmed by the FIFA Council, which meets Oct. 25-26 in Rwanda." In the "current cycle," men's World Cup champion France earned $38M from FIFA, while the U.S. got $2M for winning the 2015 Women's World Cup. Meanwhile, Shaw said that flight upgrades to business class will be paid "except for team flights under four hours." FIFA will also "raise standards" for the 2019 Women's World Cup by "ensuring opposing teams do not have to stay at the same hotel." Hotel sharing is "prohibited in men's World Cup rules" (AP, 9/20).
