FIFA Targets $220m Women's World Cup Prize Money but Equal Pay Remains Distant

Posted : 31 October 2026

FIFA is reportedly planning to double the prize money for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil to at least $220 million. The proposed increase would represent a major financial boost for women's football, but it would still fall short of matching the rewards available at the men's tournament.

According to reports from Sky News and The Athletic, FIFA's administration is preparing the proposal for consideration at the FIFA Council meeting in December 2026. The plan would increase the prize pool from the $110 million distributed at the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The proposed amount would also mark a significant rise from the $30 million awarded during the 2019 tournament in France. However, the reported $220 million target remains well below the $655 million allocated as performance-based prize money for the 2026 Men's World Cup.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously expressed his ambition to achieve equal prize money for the men's and women's competitions by 2026 and 2027 respectively.

Speaking in 2023, Infantino said FIFA wanted to reach payment equality but also called on broadcasters and sponsors to increase their financial support for women's football. He argued that commercial offers for the Women's World Cup remained significantly lower than those received for the men's competition.

The latest proposal suggests that the target will not be achieved for the 2027 tournament. Nevertheless, FIFA has already approved several improvements to the financial arrangements for participating teams and players.

Each of the 32 national associations qualifying for Brazil 2027 will receive $2.5 million in preparation funding. This matches the amount allocated to participating associations at the 2026 Men's World Cup.

FIFA also confirmed that players at the women's tournament will receive the same service standards as their male counterparts. The improvements form part of a wider financial distribution plan covering national associations, players and clubs.

The governing body is also reportedly considering increasing payments to clubs that release players for the tournament. The proposed allocation could rise from $11.3 million in 2023 to approximately $22.6 million in 2027.

Individual player payments are also expected to increase. At the 2023 tournament, FIFA guaranteed each participating player a minimum payment of $30,000. Reports indicate that the figure could double to $60,000 for the next edition.

The United States provides an example of a different approach to equal pay. Its men's and women's national teams share World Cup prize money equally under collective bargaining agreements ratified by U.S. Soccer in 2022.

FIFA expects the 2027 Women's World Cup to become the first edition of the competition to generate a profit. The tournament will take place in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, 2027.

The proposed prize pool still requires formal approval from the FIFA Council. Further details of the financial distribution arrangements are expected when the council meets in December.

FIFA Targets $220m Women's World Cup Prize Money but Equal Pay Remains Distant

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