National: FIFA cannot ensure that female World Cup players will receive $30,000 from federations.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed uncertainty on Wednesday regarding the distribution of the promised US$30,000 payments to every player at the Women’s World Cup. In a news conference before the start of the tournament, Infantino stated that he is engaging with member federations to address the issue. The payments are made to the national federations, which are responsible for distributing the money to the players. However, there is currently no direct mechanism in place for players to receive the funds, which could have a life-changing impact for some individuals. Infantino emphasized that FIFA is working in collaboration with associations and players to move in the right direction and issue the necessary recommendations. He further explained that payments will be processed through the associations, ensuring that the players receive their respective amounts. FIFA had previously confirmed that each of the 732 players participating in the World Cup will receive at least $30,000, with additional earnings up for grabs based on team performance, including $270,000 for the winning team’s players.

Infantino acknowledged the complexities surrounding residency and taxation, highlighting the importance of federations in managing these aspects. The payments hold significant value for many players, as the average annual salary for professional women’s players worldwide is $14,000.

FIFA’s agreement stipulates that half of the total prize money fund of $110 million for the World Cup will be allocated to the players across the 32 teams. This prize pool is over three times the amount distributed at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, which had a prize fund of $30 million.

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