Australia and Japan’s Women’s Teams Accuse AFC of Overlooking Pay Inequality Issues

The women’s teams have also urged FIFA, the global governing body, to achieve its equal prize money goal for both the men’s and women’s World Cups.

The 12 nations competing in the quadrennial Asian Cup, hosted in Australia, vied for a prize pool of US$1.8 million, which is roughly 12% of the total for the 2023 men’s Asian Cup in Qatar.

This amount marks the lowest prize money for women’s continental tournaments in recent times, falling to less than half of the US$3.47 million prize pool for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

“Despite the success of this tournament, it remains the lowest-paying continental tournament in the world, with a notable inequality between the men’s and women’s game persisting.” stated the women’s teams from Australia and Japan.

“Our pre-tournament invitation to the AFC to collaborate on equal prize money, ensure a guaranteed share for all players, and to establish a lasting legacy has thus far gone unanswered.“

The AFC has opted not to comment.

While the governing body has initiated some developments for the women’s game, including the launch of the Women’s Champions League in 2024, critics argue that advancements have been inconsistent, with prize money remaining a significant issue.

The men’s World Cup prize pool from June 11 to July 19 will amount to a staggering $727 million, supporting 48 nations competing in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

In contrast, the Women’s World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 had a prize pool of $110 million for its 32 competing nations.

This year, FIFA president Gianni Infantino set a goal for gender equality in prize money for upcoming World Cups.

Brazil will host the next women’s tournament in 2027.

“As we look ahead, we anticipate FIFA will uphold its commitment to equal prize money for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and we will persist in our fight for equality and respect for women players throughout our region.” declared Australia and Japan.

The Women’s Asian Cup set new attendance records, with the final, won by Japan, attracting 74,397 spectators to Sydney’s Stadium Australia.

However, the tournament also underscored players’ dissatisfaction with gender inequality in funding.

Last year, South Korea’s players threatened a boycott over the conditions surrounding the Asian Cup.

The Indian women’s team received kits that were undersized and intended for junior teams, forcing staff to quickly source replacements locally.

“This tournament unfolded against a backdrop of significant challenges that the AFC and the players must collaboratively address.” stated Australia and Japan.