Australia and Japan’s women’s teams say AFC ignoring pay inequality concerns

MELBOURNE – Women’s Asian Cup finalists Australia and Japan said on April 2 that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had ignored an invitation to address gender pay inequality before the record-breaking tournament.

The women’s teams also called on global governing body FIFA to meet its equal prize money target for the men and women’s World Cups.

The 12 nations at the quadrennial Asian Cup hosted by Australia competed for a prize pool of US$1.8 million (S$2.3 million), about 12 per cent of the total for the 2023 men’s Asian Cup in Qatar.

It was the lowest prize money among women’s continental competitions in recent years, barely half of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations pool (US$3.47 million).

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

“Our pre-tournament invitation to the AFC to work together on equal prize money, a guaranteed share to all players, and to co-develop a lasting legacy has so far been ignored.”

The AFC declined to comment.

The governing body has taken steps to develop the women’s game, including launching the Women's Champions League in 2024, but critics say progress has been uneven and prize money remains a key issue.

The June 11-July 19 men’s World Cup prize pool is US$727 million for the 48 nations competing in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The 32-nation Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 had a pool of US$110 million.

In 2023, FIFA president Gianni Infantino set a target for gender parity in prize money at the next World Cups.

Brazil hosts the next women’s tournament in 2027.

“As we look forward, we expect FIFA to honour its pledge of equal prize money for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and we will continue to fight for equality and respect for women players across our region,” Australia and Japan said.

The Women’s Asian Cup smashed the tournament’s attendance records, with the final won by Japan drawing a crowd of 74,397 to Sydney's Stadium Australia.

A record 350,000 fans came through the turnstiles during the three-week tournament.

In February, a report issued by the global footballers’ union FIFPRO said the event could generate up to US$82.4 million in revenue.

But the tournament also highlighted players’ frustration with gender inequality in funding.

South Korea’s players threatened in 2025 to boycott the tournament over conditions.

India’s women were sent undersized kits made for junior teams, sending staff scrambling to get them made locally.

“This tournament was also played against a backdrop of real challenges that the AFC and the players need to work in partnership to address,” Australia and Japan said.

In the men’s game, European teams are asking FIFA to increase prize money and to greater assist with costs associated with their participation in the 2026 World Cup, which is expected to generate more than US$11 billion in revenue, The Athletic reported on April 1.

UEFA, which governs football in Europe, has been asked by several European associations to lobby FIFA on their behalf, according to the report.

FIFA has vowed to reinvest proceeds into the global game, but the organisations do not know what their cut will be.

Some teams have worries that their cost of playing in this summer’s World Cup in North America could exceed what they earn, or that they will not bring in much money.

UEFA and FIFA officials did not comment when contacted by The Athletic.

The matter of payment is expected to be discussed when the FIFA Congress convenes in Vancouver at the end of May, per the report, which also said each team will receive US$1.5 million in “preparation costs” as well as an allowance for food, travel and lodging for a travelling party of about 50 people. REUTERS, AFP