FIFA plans to double the prize money for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil to $220 million, falling short of equal pay with the men’s tournament despite earlier leadership targets, ESPN reported.
FIFA Advances $220 Million Prize Fund for Brazil Tournament
The FIFA administration will present the prize money increase at the upcoming December meeting. The proposal requires formal approval by the full FIFA Council before it takes effect. At the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand, teams competed for a total financial package of $150 million, which included $110 million in direct prize money. The previous prize pool stood at just over $100 million for direct team payouts. The new $220 million proposal represents a significant bump, yet it remains roughly a third of the $655 million shared by men’s teams at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Preparation Funds Match Men’s Tournament Allocations
While overall prize pools diverge, FIFA confirmed that preparation funding for participating associations will match the men’s standard. Every federation taking part in the 2027 Women’s World Cup will receive $2.5 million in preparation money. This figure mirrors the exact amount distributed to participating countries for the 2026 Men’s World Cup. FIFA stated that these preparation funds will be disbursed to member associations by December 2026.
Infantino Cites Commercial Gaps in Broadcast Revenue
In 2023, FIFA president Gianni Infantino addressed the funding gap by pointing to broadcast valuations. “Our ambition would, of course, to be able to have equality in payments for the 2026 men’s and 2027 Women’s World Cup,” Infantino said in 2023. He added that FIFA was receiving offers between 10 and 100 times lower for the Women’s World Cup than for the men’s equivalent. During the 2023 buildup, broadcasters struggled to conclude separate deals because many believed they had already purchased women’s tournament rights through their men’s tournament packages.
Domestic Collective Bargaining Sets Different Standards
Away from international governing bodies, individual federations have adopted equal distribution models. The United States women’s and men’s national teams share World Cup prize money equally. This parity is secured under the terms of collective bargaining agreements that U.S. Soccer ratified in 2022.
Common Questions About the 2027 Prize Pool
When will the FIFA Council vote on the $220 million proposal?
The FIFA administration will present the proposal at the FIFA meeting scheduled for December.
How much preparation money will each federation receive for 2027?
Every participating association will receive $2.5 million in preparation funds, matching the amount given to teams at the 2026 Men’s World Cup.
How does the women’s prize pool compare to the men’s tournament?
The proposed $220 million women’s prize pool is roughly a third of the $655 million shared by teams at the 2026 Men’s World Cup.