Ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has revealed that there is no guarantee that participating players’ bonuses will be paid directly to them as there is no mechanism to directly pay the players the money, which could be life-changing for some.
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He allayed that he’s engaging with member federations on the issue, with the payments made to the national federations, which are expected to pay the players as the ongoing row over player pay, prize money continues despite the fact that the tournament will kick-off tomorrow.
It comes after Australia women’s side criticized the difference in World Cup prize money to the men’s game, while England has been at odds with the Football Association over bonuses, with the Lionesses now putting talks on hold so they can focus on the tournament.
Infantino could also make no guarantee that the member federations will distribute the £24,000 ($30,000) payments promised to every player at the World Cup.
“We are moving of course in the right direction, we have been consulting with associations, with players, to try to go in the right path,” Infantino said. ‘We have issued these recommendations, but we have an association of associations.
“So whatever payments we do, we will go through the associations and then the associations will, of course, make the relevant payments to their own players. We are in touch with all the associations.”
FIFA had previously confirmed that the 732 players participating in the World Cup will be paid at least £24,000 each but the paycheck rises if teams do well, with each player for the winning team earning £200,000 ($270,000).
Infantino said there are complications including residency and taxation that are best handled by federations.
The payment is significant for many players: the average annual salary worldwide for women who play professionally is £10,000 ($14,000).
FIFA’s agreement means that half of the total World Cup prize money fund of £ 84 million ($110m) will be paid to the players in the 32 teams.
The prize pool is more than three times the £23m ($30m) prize fund FIFA paid out at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France.
Co-hosts, New Zealand will open the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC) against 1995 World champions, Norway tomorrow.
