FIFA Confirms 2027 Women’s World Cup Prize Money Will Not Reach Equality Target

FIFA has officially announced that it will not meet its previously stated ambition of equalising prize money between the men’s and women’s World Cups by the 2027 tournament. This confirmation comes despite FIFA generating a record $15 billion in revenue from the 2026 men’s World Cup held earlier this year.

In 2023, FIFA President Gianni Infantino set an ambitious target to achieve prize money equality for the women’s tournament by 2027, emphasizing that the organisation aimed to take concrete actions rather than mere promises. This announcement had raised widespread expectations across the women’s football community that the 2027 prize fund would at least match the men’s on a per-team basis.

However, the latest update reveals that while the prize money for the 2027 Women’s World Cup will increase significantly—potentially even doubling compared to previous editions—the gap between the men’s and women’s prize funds will remain substantial. This means that full parity will not be reached, disappointing many advocates pushing for equal investment and recognition of women’s football.

The 2026 men’s World Cup was a historic commercial success for FIFA, with revenues hitting unprecedented heights. Despite this windfall, the allocation of prize money for the women’s competition will not reflect full equality, highlighting the ongoing challenges FIFA faces in balancing commercial realities with gender equality ambitions within global football.

This development is likely to intensify discussions about the pace of progress in women’s football, especially as the sport continues to grow in both popularity and commercial value worldwide. It also puts pressure on FIFA to clarify its broader strategy for supporting women’s football beyond prize money, including investment in infrastructure, grassroots development, and promotion.

As the 2027 Women’s World Cup approaches, the prize money decision will be closely scrutinised by fans, players, and stakeholders alike. The focus will now shift to how FIFA and national associations respond to calls for greater fairness and support for the women’s game in future cycles.

Source: theguardian.com