Prize money at the upcoming Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will be triple that at the last edition in 2019, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced on Thursday, as he also revealed Saudi Arabia’s tourist board will not sponsor the tournament.
Speaking at the FIFA Congress in Kigali after being re-elected for a third term as president, Infantino said the total pot, covering prize money as well as compensation for preparations and for clubs, would be $152 million.
That is up from $50 million in 2019 and just $15 million at the previous tournament in Canada four years earlier.
The Women’s World Cup in July and August will be the first to feature 32 teams, up from the 24 teams who went to the 2019 edition which was held in France and won by the United States.
The figure still pales In comparison to the $440 million prize money at the 32-team 2022 men’s World Cup.
Infantino said some broadcasters had offered 100 times less to cover the women’s competition despite viewing figures being “very similar, maybe 20 percent less”. “FIFA is stepping up not just with words but with actions. Unfortunately, this is not the case of everyone across the industry. Broadcasters and sponsors have to do more in this respect,” he said.