"In the 1991 World Cup (the first ever for women’s soccer), the World Champion USWNT received zero prize money and US Soccer paid us $10 a day per diem. I scored 10 goals winning the first ever FIFA Golden Boot in that World Cup and I literally went broke funding my own training, medical care, and attorneys to fight for equality in policy, opportunity, and medical care. The game has grown tremendously since then, and while the industry is still accountable for achieving equal standards, the Side of Equity Fund is a game changer in accelerating pay equity globally for Women athletes."
-Michelle Akers
USWNT Player 85-00', World Cup Champion 91' 99'
Prize money
The history of World Cup prize money distribution from FIFA over the years.
The unequal pay trend continued in subsequent years for the women as a percent of the men’s prize money with 2.18% in 2011, 3.8% in 2015 and 7.5% in 2019. This year for the 2023 tournament FIFA has begun to move the needle announcing on June 8th the $110M prize money for the women compared to the men’s $440M, shifting the percentage up to 25%.
While the USWNT settled its equal pay battle against the US Soccer Federation in 2021 the retroactive pay settlement did not include any players before 2015. In recent months the Canadian Women’s National Team has been fighting for equal pay with the Canadian Soccer Federation and are still in negotiations.
While there is progress, the VOICEINSPORT Foundation supported by a global community of women athletes want to create a tangible way for anyone to take action and accelerate change.