A total of $15 million was awarded by FIFA at the 2015 Women’s World Cup; that pool of money doubled to $30 million in 2019. Following the US women’s victory in 2019, FIFA president Gianni Infantino once again pledged to double the prize money for the 2023 tournament. But these monetary awards still pale in comparison to what male competitors have been offered. The prize pool for the 2018 Men’s World Cup was roughly $400 million and is set to increase to $440 for next year’s tournament in Qatar.

In a Sept. 10 letter, US Soccer Federation president Cindy Cone said that “coming to a resolution on the World Cup prize money” would be “key” to collective bargaining negotiations with both the men’s and women’s soccer teams.

“Until FIFA equalizes the prize money that it awards to the men’s and women’s World Cup participants, it is incumbent upon us to collectively find a solution,” she said.

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