In 2022, the global football players’ union, FIFPRO, issued a letter signed by 150 international players. In the letter, they demanded FIFA ensure equality in conditions for women’s teams participating in the 2023 World Cup compared to the men’s teams in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
As a result of these demands, FIFA increased the tournament’s funding and the value of prizes awarded during the competition. Additionally, it guaranteed equal conditions for participants, including accommodation level, flight class, and the size of the delegation accompanying the teams. The most significant milestone was the first-time assurance of a $30,000 payment for all players participating in the World Cup.
Despite these efforts, the gender gap in professional football persists as a reality. In the 2023 Women’s World Cup, FIFA allocated a quarter of the total prize budget compared to the Men’s World Cup in 2022.
The total prize amount is just the visible surface of a deeper reality. In the context of women’s football, disparity against the male category manifests in various forms. A clear example is the valuation of trophies: FIFA estimated the Women’s Cup trophy’s value at $30,000, while the trophy for the Men’s Cup was valued between $250,000 and $300,000 in 2022.
Despite FIFA’s efforts, women’s football receives less sponsorship, less broadcast time, and lower revenue in the respective clubs and national teams where players participate. While efforts have been made to narrow the gap, the history of World Cup prizes serves as a reminder of the persistent structural disparity in professional football.
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