FIFA will not meet its goal of achieving equal prize money for men’s and women’s football at the 2027 World Cup, which will be held in Brazil. Despite the tournament’s expected financial growth and the commitments made by its president, Gianni Infantino, the gap compared to the men’s competition will remain considerable, even after a substantial increase in the resources allocated to participating teams.
In 2023, Infantino stated that equal prize money was one of the organization’s main ambitions for 2027, a declaration that raised expectations within women’s football. However, negotiations in recent weeks suggest that the next edition of the tournament will fall short of that goal, particularly considering the financial growth of international football and the record revenues generated by FIFA.
The financial gap between the men’s and women’s World Cups will remain considerable
The difference in prize money becomes particularly significant when comparing the number of participating teams in both tournaments. While the 2026 men’s World Cup featured 48 teams and distributed a total of $655 million in prize money, the 2027 women’s tournament in Brazil will feature 32 teams. Based on a proportional distribution, the women’s competition would need to receive around two-thirds of the amount allocated to the men’s tournament to achieve financial parity per team. However, estimates suggest that the prize money will amount to approximately one-third of the men’s total.
According to information reported by Sky News, FIFA is expected to double the prize money for the Women’s World Cup, increasing it from the $110 million awarded in 2023 to approximately $220 million for the 2027 edition. Although this represents significant growth and more than seven times the amount allocated to the tournament in France in 2019, the proposal falls short of the equality commitment made by Infantino. The news has generated mixed reactions within women’s football: while some sources acknowledge the progress made during negotiations, a senior female official described the situation as a “huge missed opportunity” for the governing body.
FIFA seeks to address the differences through greater investment in women’s football
One of the arguments surrounding the decision relates to the commercial revenue generated by the competition. FIFA earned approximately $15 billion during the 2026 men’s World Cup cycle, a record figure that contrasts with the difficulties of increasing the resources allocated to the women’s tournament. Infantino had previously criticized broadcasters for the amounts offered to acquire the competition’s television rights, despite the reach achieved by the 2023 edition: 933 million viewers on traditional television and another 895 million through streaming platforms, according to FIFA figures. The final between England and Spain, played in Sydney, reached a global live audience of 67 million people.
At the same time, FIFA has sought to strengthen other financial and logistical benefits for the teams competing in Brazil. This month, it confirmed that women’s national teams will receive the same preparation funds as their male counterparts, with an allocation of more than $2.5 million per team, over twice the previous amount. Players will also be guaranteed business-class or charter flights and individual hotel rooms, conditions intended to bring both tournaments’ experiences closer together. In addition, the governing body has proposed improvements to funding for women’s clubs and additional resources for players participating in the competition. The final decision on the 2027 prize money, meanwhile, is expected to be made at the FIFA Council meeting scheduled for December.
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