The ongoing push for pay equity in international soccer took another major step forward as FIFA implemented a new compensation structure guaranteeing every women’s World Cup player at least $30,000.
The figure, more than twice the average club salary for a pro women’s player, forms a key part of a new plan that takes effect with the 2023 women’s World Cup beginning next month in Australia and New Zealand. Winning team members will receive $270,000 each as FIFA, for the first time, will channel some of the prize money directly to players instead of federations.
The overall prize pool of $110 million for the women’s World Cup surpasses the $30 million paid out for the 2019 tournament in France.
Men’s federations in the 2022 World Cup were awarded $440 million, but FIFA intends to have full pay equity by the 2026 and 2027 World Cups.
FIFA “listened to the voice of the players, and we have taken steps toward greater gender equity in our game at the highest levels,” said the players union FIFPRO.
AB InBev renewal
FIFA, meanwhile, renewed its large-scale sponsorship with Budweiser parent AB InBev. The contract extension represents a notable repair of a relationship that fractured last fall when the 2022 World Cup host country Qatar banned beer sales at stadiums, leading Budweiser to seek $47.4 million in fee reductions.
Financial terms of the renewal were not disclosed. The extension covers the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2026 men’s World Cup. The company has been a FIFA sponsor for nearly 40 years.
