International player union FIFPro has highlighted that the gender gap in terms of prize money paid to teams competing in the men’s and women’s World Cup has increased, despite it doubling for teams competing in next year’s Women’s World Cup in France. The FIFA Council recently announced that the total amount paid to teams would increase from US$15 million paid at the 2015 Women’s World Cup Canada to $50 million at the 2019 Women’s World Cup France, which included a doubling of the prize money to $30 million. The rest of the increase constituted $11.52 million in preparation money paid to qualified teams; and $8.48 million for a Club Benefits Programme to reward clubs that release players for the tournament.

FIFPro highlighted that the prize money paid to teams competing in the men’s World Cup had increased from $358 million in 2014 to $400 million in 2018. So although the prize money paid to teams competing in the women’s World Cup had doubled to $30 million, the gender pay gap in terms of prize money had increased from $343 million to $370 million.

FIFA World Cup prize money changes (USD)

2015 ➡️2019 @FIFAWWC (women) $15 million to $30 million

2014 ➡️2018 @FIFAWorldCup (men) $358 million to $400 million#GenderPayGap has increased to $370 million from $343 million https://t.co/Za1dOUlCZK

— FIFPro (@FIFPro) October 26, 2018

‘In reality, the changes actually signify an increase in the gap between men’s and women’s prize money’, read a statement. ‘This regressive trend appears to contravene FIFA’s statutory commitment to gender equality’.