• Loading stock data...
Thursday, February 19, 2026

The 15 Highest-Paid Players at the Women’s World Cup

  • Nine of the top-10 highest-paid World Cup players are on the USWNT.
  • The rankings from Forbes combine both on-field and off-field earnings.
Alex Morgan ranks first at $7.1 million, followed by Megan Rapinoe.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

U.S. Women’s National Team players make up 11 of the 15 highest-paid players on Women’s World Cup rosters, according to new rankings from Forbes.

For USWNT players Forbes calculated their total earnings based on their U.S. Soccer and NWSL club contracts, off-field earnings from endorsements, appearances, licensing, memorabilia, and other business activities.

This summer’s Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia is the first held since U.S. Soccer reached a new collective bargaining agreement in 2022 to split prize pool bonuses among the men’s and women’s national teams, as we all equalized payments for appearance fees, performance bonuses, and commercial revenue.  

While the $110 million prize pool for this year’s Women’s World Cup is quadruple the 2019 tournament’s $30 million total, it is still only a quarter of FIFA’s prize pool for the men’s World Cup. FIFA threatened to blackout European broadcasts of this year’s Women’s World Cup because networks made lowball offers before settling for deals that fell $100 million short of its targeted rights fee goal.

FIFA aims pay equity among World Cup prize pools by 2027. Visa recently extended its sponsorship with U.S. Soccer through 2028, promising that at least 50% of Visa’s investments will go towards Women’s National Team and women’s soccer initiatives.

Below is the list of Forbes’s top-15 Women’s World Cup earners, with several players tied for spots.

RankPlayerCompensationNation
No. 1Alex Morgan$7.1MU.S.
No. 2Megan Rapinoe$7MU.S.
No. 3Alexia Putellas$4MSpain
No. 4Trinity Rodman$2.3MU.S.
No. 5Crystal Dunn$2MU.S.
No. 6Julie Ertz$2MU.S.
No. 7Sophia Smith$2MU.S.
No. 8Lindsey Horan$1.5MU.S
No. 9Rose Lavelle$1.4MU.S.
No. 10Sofia Huerta$1.3M  U.S.
No. 11Ada Hegerberg$1.2MNorway
No. 12Chloe Kelly$1.2MEngland 
No. 13Sam Kerr$1.2MAustralia
No. 14Kelley O’Hara$1.2M U.S.
No. 15Alyssa Naeher$1.1M U.S.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

World Cup Going Primetime: Fox to Air Record 40 Matches at Night

More matches than ever will be shown in primetime and on broadcast TV.
Oct 5, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; US Women's National Soccer Team Coach Jill Ellis speaks to the media during a press conference ahead of her final match as head coach of the US Women's National Soccer Team Coach at Soldier Field.

FIFA’s Jill Ellis Defends Potential Qatar Women’s Club World Cup: U.S. Is..

Qatar is reportedly interested in bidding for the January 2028 tournament.

New York Is First World Cup City to Charge for a Fan..

Some cities have said events will be free, while others won’t commit.
Sep 27, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji (9) takes a shot on goal against the Utah Royals in the second half at PayPal Park.

Some Women’s Soccer Stars Wouldn’t Qualify Under NWSL’s New ‘Rodman Rule’

Players oppose the policy and the union is planning to take action.

Featured Today

Max Valverde by Ron Winsett

How Ski Mountaineering’s Hype Man Went From TikTok to NBC

Max Valverde’s gushing over the niche sport vaulted him to Olympic broadcaster.
Feb 11, 2026; Livigno, Italy; Jaelin Kauf of the United States during freestyle skiing women's moguls final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Aerials & Moguls Park
February 13, 2026

The Surprise Hit of the Winter Olympics: First-Person Drone Views

Tiny drone cameras have reshaped the Olympics viewing experience.
Feb 11, 2026; Milan, Italy; Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States skate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena.
February 13, 2026

Olympic Figure Skaters Pay Out of Pocket for $9,000 Costumes

For four minutes on ice, stakes are high—and prices even higher.
February 11, 2026

Epstein Emails Show His F1 Ties Ran Deep

The sex trafficker’s circles included many of the biggest names in F1.
Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; eam World forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on in-between games during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome.

How Alexis Ohanian Became Giannis’s Sports Investment Whisperer

“It all started with a DM from Thanasis,” Ohanian tells FOS.
Feb 17, 2026; Pacific Palisades, CA, USA; Genesis Invitational tournament host Tiger Woods speaks to the media during a press conference at Riviera Country Club.
February 17, 2026

PGA Tour Schedule Changes May Take Multiple Years to Roll Out

A new schedule could include fewer events and new major markets.
Aryna Sabalenka
February 18, 2026

Tennis’s Brutal Schedule Comes to a Head in Dubai As Dozens Drop..

Some stars appear to have found a loophole in WTA rules.
Sponsored

From MLS to AUSL: Jon Patricof on Building Sports Leagues

Jon Patricof on athlete equity, fan-first strategy, and how women’s sports can reshape the future of league building.
Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team USA Stripes forward Jaylen Brown (7) of the Boston Celtics shoots against Team USA Stars in game two during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome.
February 17, 2026

Jaylen Brown Calls Foul After Beverly Hills Police Shut Down Event

Brown was in Los Angeles for the 2026 All-Star Weekend.
February 16, 2026

Breanna Stewart Signs Turkey Deal With WNBA in Limbo

The WNBA season is scheduled to start May 8.
February 15, 2026

De’Aaron Fox Still With Under Armour Despite Curry Brand Divorce 

Fox signed with Curry Brand in 2023 after being with Nike. 
February 14, 2026

Casey Wasserman Selling Agency Amid Epstein Uproar

Wasserman exchanged deeply personal emails with Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003.