FIFA Executive Urges Prioritizing Battles Strategically for Equal Pay

The issue of equal pay in women’s soccer has long been a source of controversy, and FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, recently made some remarks that have sparked debate among fans. Speaking at the FIFA Women’s Football Convention before the World Cup final match between Spain and England, Infantino stated that women “have the power to change,” but they need to choose their battles wisely. He urged them to convince men of what needs to be done for equality. However, his comments have not been well-received by everyone.

Infantino also expressed that equal pay in major tournaments would only be a symbolic gesture and would not solve the underlying issues. The prize money for the Sunday match is $110 million, whereas the men’s World Cup in 2022 had a prize pool of $440 million. Infantino emphasized the need for real equality and genuine efforts to address the pay disparity. Fans quickly shared their thoughts on social media, with one commenter questioning why women should have to convince men and another suggesting that men should already understand the problem and hold the doors open for women.

Ada Hegerberg, a renowned Norwegian soccer player, sarcastically mentioned working on a presentation to convince men. Infantino also highlighted FIFA’s decision to expand the number of women’s teams from 24 in the 2019 World Cup to 32 in this year’s tournament, emphasizing that critics were proven wrong. However, amidst the discussion about equal pay, it was reported that Australian police mainly rejected FIFA’s request to provide Infantino with a law enforcement escort during his visit to the country. Only one vehicle will accompany him on game days, which FIFA will have to pay for. (Read more FIFA stories.)