Women’s World Cup 2023: Fifa president Gianni Infantino on battle for equality
Fifa’s president Gianni Infantino has said women who “pick the right fights” can “convince us men what we have to do” to bring progress in women’s football.
The months-long 2023 Women’s World Cup comes to an end this Sunday when England face Spain at Stadium Australia in Sydney (11:00 BST kick-off).
Infantino said women must “push the door” to equality.
“With men, with Fifa, you will find open doors. Just push the doors,” he added.
There are still two matches left to play including Saturday’s third-place play-off between Sweden and Australia (09:00 BST). So far the Women’s World Cup has been watched by a tournament-record 1.85m fans inside the stadiums.
“This World Cup generated over $570m (£447m) in revenues, and so we broke even,” said Infantino.
“We didn’t lose any money and we generated the second highest income of any sport, besides of course the men’s World Cup, at a global stage.”
There remains a huge discrepancy in prize money between the men’s and women’s tournaments, with the record £86.1m for this World Cup – still way behind the £346m on offer to teams at the last year’s men’s final.
“Equal pay in the World Cup? We are going in that direction already,” said Infantino.
“But that would not solve anything. It might be a symbol but it would not solve anything, because it’s one month every four years and it’s a few players out of the thousands and thousands of players.
“We need to keep the momentum.”
He added: “And I say to all the women – and you know I have four daughters, so I have a few at home – that you have the power to change. Pick the right battles. Pick the right fights.
“You have the power to convince us men what we have to do and what we don’t have to do. You do it. Just do it.”