Bloomberg Línea — As the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 advances into the quarter-final stage, new prize money levels will be secured by the countries that seal their place among the tournament’s final eight contenders.
The competition, which is taking place in Australia and New Zealand, stands as the premier event in women’s soccer. As of this Monday, only 10 nations remain out of the 32 teams from six confederations that began the tournament on July 20th.
There will be two fewer countries left as of this Tuesday, as Colombia will face Jamaica and France will take on Morocco to finish setting up the quarter-final fixture. The other teams that have sealed their place among the last eight are the following: Spain vs. Netherlands; Japan vs. Sweden; Australia vs. TBD; England vs. TBD.
Prize money per round
This year’s tournament offers a total package of $152 million, which is three times more than what was offered at France 2019 and over ten times more than Canada 2015, according to FIFA’s official website. A new funding distribution approach will see basic prize money replaced with $110 million allocated to participant member associations, compared to $30 million in 2019 and $15 million in 2015.
For the first time ever, a dedicated portion of this funding will be reserved for the participating players, ensuring they receive compensation for their contribution and work, while the rest will be retained by member associations for reinvestment in football activities.
This new payment system will result in record compensation for the participating member federations, which FIFA argues will promote soccer development in their respective countries. Simultaneously, players called up by their national teams will receive guaranteed remuneration for their performances in the competition.
The compensation amounts per participating member federation are as follows:
- Group stage: $1,560,000
- Round of 16: $1,870,000
- Quarter-finals: $2,180,000
- Fourth place: $2,455,000
- Third place: $2,610,000
- Runners-up: $3,015,000
- Champions: $4,290,000
Additionally, there will be record remuneration for each player based on the stage her team reaches in the tournament:
- Group stage: $30,000
- Round of 16: $60,000
- Quarter-finals: $90,000
- Fourth place: $165,000
- Third place: $180,000
- Runners-up: $195,000
- Champions: $270,000
FIFA President Gianni Infantino sees this as an “innovative distribution model that will positively impact the careers of each player.” He also believes that member federations receiving historic amounts based on their performance will contribute to the further development of women’s football in their countries.
How does this compare to men’s World Cup prizes?
The prize money for the Women’s World Cup has experienced significant growth over the years, reflecting the increasing popularity and quality of women’s soccer. However, it still falls short compared to the prize money for the Men’s World Cup, which amounted to $440 million in 2018, with the winner taking home $38 million. This disparity between men’s and women’s prize money has sparked controversy and discussions, especially in light of the US women’s national team’s lawsuit against their federation for equal pay.
The Women’s World Cup 2023 is anticipated to be an exhilarating and fiercely competitive tournament, with numerous teams striving for glory and recognition. While the prize money may not be the primary motivation for the players, it undoubtedly adds to the stakes and excitement of the event.