FIFA to double Women's World Cup prize money - but it doesn't match men's tournament

FIFA plans to double Women's World Cup prize money next year but will not deliver on Gianni Infantino's ambition to match the cash paid out at the men's tournament, Sky News has learnt.

Such is the sensitivity of the issue, FIFA has spoken directly to leading women's players to explain why there is still no gender equality on prize funds, sources revealed.

Chief football officer Jill Ellis is understood to have offered assurances in calls with players about how FIFA is increasing investment to develop the women's game, beyond the cash distributed to World Cup participants.

According to information shared within FIFA, prize money is being targeted to double to $220m for Brazil 2027 compared with the 2023 Women's World Cup - a dramatic increase from the $30m shared out in 2019.

But, if there was parity with this year's men's World Cup, cash distributed to nations based on their tournament performance would be at least $511m, according to our calculations.

FIFA's wealth is in the spotlight after its cash reserves were revealed to have soared to at least $5.2bn (£4bn), according to a letter privately sent to football executives in the fallout from Mr Infantino's abandoned attempt to sell shares in the World Cup to private investors.

FIFA makes most of its money from the men's World Cup but we can reveal the governing body is projecting Brazil 2027 will be the first Women's World Cup to generate a profit.

Mr Infantino had said before the last Women's World Cup in 2023: "Our ambition would, of course, to be able to have equality in payments for the 2026 men's and 2027 Women's World Cup.

"This is the objective we set to ourselves. FIFA is stepping up with actions not just with words… but unfortunately this is not the case with everyone across the industry. Broadcasters and sponsors, dear friends, have to do more in this respect."

In their call with Ms Ellis - a World Cup winning coach with the American women - players were told about the commercial realities but also that the ambition remains for prize money parity in years to come, sources said.

FIFA has only confirmed preparation money will rise to $2.5m for each of the 32 finalists next year - the same as teams received for this year's men's World Cup.

That will cost FIFA $80m in total compared to $30.7m for preparation costs for the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

'Same service level as the men'

Players will have the "same service levels as their male counterparts in 2026", FIFA said. That is understood to relate to business class flights and separate bedrooms rather than having to share in hotels,

FIFA is also understood to be targeting doubling the $11.3m paid out in 2023 to clubs who not only released players to the Women's World Cup, but also developed them in younger years. The potential $22.6m for the club Benefits programme is a notable increase from the $8m first shared out in 2019.

Without providing the prize money details, FIFA said: "Any surplus from the women's showpiece will be allocated to the member associations involved, with a specific amount ring-fenced for players."

For the first time in 2023, FIFA directed that teams use prize money to pay each player at the Women's World Cup at least $30,000. We have learnt that figure is set to increase along with an improved process for payments following complaints about delays faced in 2023.

There are also understood to be plans to share revenue from the tournament with more than 140 nations who did not qualify as well as their players.

FIFA said it could not comment further ahead of a meeting of its ruling council in December discussing a financial distribution model approved by the smaller group of executives, including Mr Infantino and the presidents of the world's six football confederations.

European champions England - the 2023 Women's World Cup runner-up - are still trying to qualify for Brazil next year. The final round of the European playoffs are in December with Ireland, Scotland and Wales also still in contention.

(c) Sky News 2026: FIFA to double Women's World Cup prize money - but it doesn't match men's tournament