FIFA targets $220m Women's World Cup prize fund, Sky News reports

FIFA is targeting a $220 million prize fund for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil, according to Sky News, doubling the amount distributed in 2023 but falling short of equality with the men's tournament. The reported figure is a target rather than an announced final award, with further financial discussions scheduled for December.

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Sky News reported that chief football officer Jill Ellis had spoken with leading players about the funding plans. According to the broadcaster's sources, those conversations addressed commercial considerations and FIFA's wider spending on women's football, while maintaining that equal prize money remains an ambition for future tournaments.

The proposal would follow president Gianni Infantino's stated ambition in 2023 to achieve equality in payments across the 2026 men's and 2027 women's World Cups. Sky News also reported that FIFA expects Brazil 2027 to become the first profitable Women's World Cup. That projection has not yet become a financial result, and the proposed prize fund remains unconfirmed.

A separate part of the financial package is already official. In its October 22 announcement, FIFA said its Council Bureau had approved a distribution model covering prize money, preparation funding and the Club Benefits Programme. Each participating association will receive $2.5 million in preparation money, matching the allocation for the 2026 men's World Cup. That confirmed payment should not be confused with the still-pending prize fund.

FIFA's tournament blog states that the preparation funds will be available to participating associations before December 2026. The governing body has also committed to matching the service levels provided to players at the men's event. Under the approved model, any surplus from the women's tournament will go to the associations involved, with a specified portion reserved for players.

The next scheduled Council meeting, in December 2026, will discuss additional details of the distribution arrangements, FIFA said. Brazil's tournament runs from June 24 to July 25, 2027. For the participating teams and players, preparation support is therefore confirmed, while the final prize-money figures remain a separate outstanding part of the package.