FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has called for “full equality” in football, emphasizing that achieving equal pay at the Men’s and Women’s World Cups alone would not be enough to address the underlying issues. Infantino believes that equal pay should be pursued, but it should not be considered a solution in itself, as it only applies to a few players during one month every four years.
Infantino has set ambitious goals for prize parity at the 2026 and 2027 World Cups, but he challenges all stakeholders to take further action. He states, “We need to keep the momentum. We need to push for equality, but we have to do it for real.”
Earlier this year, Infantino voiced concerns that the Women’s World Cup could not be broadcasted in Europe’s major countries due to inadequate offers from broadcasters. However, deals were eventually reached, and the tournament has been a ratings success, breaking records in countries like Australia and the UK.
The 2019 Women’s World Cup in France offered a prize pot of $110 million, significantly less than the $440 million awarded at the 2022 men’s competition in Qatar. Despite the increase in prize money for the current tournament, there is still a long way to go in achieving full equality.
Infantino acknowledges the role of broadcasters in reaching the prize parity target and believes they should be part of the solution. The 2023 Women’s World Cup will be the first to include 32 teams and will also be hosted by multiple countries.
Infantino addresses concerns about the cost of expanding the tournament, stating, “If we have to subsidize, we will subsidize because we have to do that.” He highlights the success of the current Women’s World Cup, which generated over $570 million in revenues and broke even, making it the second highest income generator for FIFA, after the men’s World Cup.
Gianni Infantino’s call for “full equality” in football is a powerful reminder that the fight for gender equality in the sport must continue beyond equal pay at select tournaments. It is a rallying cry to all stakeholders to work together in creating a truly equal and inclusive football landscape.
NAN
