Infantino targets equal prize money by the 2027 Women's World Cup

With a rise of 300 percent from the 2019 tournament, the 2023 World Cup's prize money is set to be $150million with the number of teams in the competition increasing to 32 from 24. However, the Qatar 2022 involved prize money totaling $440m. After getting re-elected, Infantino hopes for equal prize money by 2027.

Infantino said that

"broadcasters and sponsors have to do more"

and be willing to pay more into the women's tournament, adding:

"FIFA is receiving between 10 and 100 times less from public broadcasters for the women's World Cup than the men's World Cup. Do you think that is normal?

"At the same, these public broadcasters who are paid by the taxpayers' money, they criticise FIFA, a bit less the others, for not guaranteeing equal pay to men and women.

"You pay us 100 times less but your viewing figures are very similar, maybe 20-25 percent less, not 100 percent less. Well offer us 20 percent less or 50 percent less, but not 100 percent less. How can we do it, otherwise?"

Infantino confirmed Saudi Arabia's tourism negotiated over sponsoring this year's Women's World Cup, but insisted a deal was not reached.

"I can clarify that there were discussions with Visit Saudi," the FIFA president said. "At the end, this discussion didn't lead into a contract. How do you say it? It was a storm in a water glass. A storm in a teacup."

"This doesn't seem to be a problem. But between a global organization like FIFA and Visit Saudi this would have been an issue. There is a double standard here, which I really don't understand."

"There is no issue and no contract. There are discussions and of course we want to see how we can involve Saudi sponsors in women's football generally, how we can involve Saudi sponsors in men football, or we can involve Qatari sponsors in women's football and men's football, and all other sponsors from all over the world."

Football Australia's CEO James Johnson added:

"Equality, diversity and inclusion are really deep commitments for Football Australia, and we'll continue to work hard with FIFA to ensure the Women's World Cup is shaped in this light."

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