Women’s World Cup prize money: FIFA approves 2023 increase as they look to match men’s pay by 2027

With the 2023 Women’s World Cup just around the corner, players and teams have received a welcome boost from FIFA.

After paying out a record sum of prize money at the 2022 Men’s World Cup, the Football Association has agreed to increase the revenue on offer at the women’s tournament, which will be played in July this year.

While the increase is still far from what male teams can win, the increase is significant as FIFA pays a tie until 2027.

The Sporting News breaks down the change and prize money differences below.

MORE: Which teams qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup?

Women’s World Cup 2023 prize money

FIFA has confirmed that the 2023 Women’s World Cup, to be held in Australia and New Zealand, will have $110 million ($91 million) in prize money.

This is a significant increase from the originally reported $60 million and three times more than the $30 million offered in 2019.

In addition to the US$110 million, an additional US$30 million has been allocated for preparation and US$11 million for clubs with players participating in the Women’s World Cup.

It is currently unclear exactly how the prize money for the 2023 tournament will be distributed, but at Qatar 2022 winners Argentina pocketed just under a tenth of the total prize money provided by FIFA.

How does the prize money compare to the 2022 World Cup?

While the 2023 Women’s World Cup has welcomed a healthy surge in prize money, it still pales in comparison to what the 2022 Men’s World Cup offered.

FIFA provided $440 million in prize money for the tournament in Qatar – four times more than what the women are fighting for in 2023.

Despite the current gender divide, FIFA President Gianni Infantino hopes to close it completely by the 2027 Women’s World Cup with the latest prize money increase, as part of a three-stage plan for equality.

“FIFA is stepping up, but unfortunately that’s not the case for everyone in the industry,” Infantino said.

“Broadcasters and sponsors have to do more in this regard, for FIFA, for the confederations, for the member associations, for everyone. FIFA receives ten to a hundred times worse offers for the women’s World Cup than for the men’s World Cup.

“For those broadcasters or sponsors who don’t want to bid similar amounts to the men’s World Cup, I have news that we will not be selling women’s football and a women’s World Cup at these prices.”

	prize money
Men’s World Cup 2022	$440 million
Women’s World Cup 2023	110 million dollars

Breakdown of all prize money at the Women’s World Cup

Although the Women’s World Cup has been held since 1991, it was not until 2007 that it was endowed with fixed prize money.

Fortunately, the amount provided by FIFA has grown rapidly since then as women’s football itself grows on and off the field.

Year	prize money
2023	110 million dollars
2019	30 million dollars
2015	15 million dollars
2011	$7.5 million
2007	$5.8 million