Players’ union calls for equal prize money for Women’s Asian Cup
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Players from seven of the 12 participating teams at the Women's Asian Cup, including Japan captain Yui Hasegawa, have called for equal prize money to the men's tournament.
PHOTO: AFP
SYDNEY – With the Women’s Asian Cup under way in Australia, the players’ union is calling on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to assign it equal prize money to the men’s version, saying that the current tournament has the potential to be “the most commercially successful” edition ever.
The AFC is expected to maintain total prize money for the Women’s Asian Cup through March 21 at US$1.8 million (S$2.3 million), unchanged from the previous edition in 2022.
Fifpro Asia/Oceania said that the tournament, which serves as a qualifier for the World Cup in Brazil in 2027, could generate up to US$82.4 million in revenue, with an estimated attendance of 797,000, citing research by global sports intelligence agency Gemba.
Players from seven of the 12 participating teams sent a letter to the AFC in December, calling for improvements in four areas, including equal prize money and playing conditions compared to the men’s tournament.
Among them, Japan captain Yui Hasegawa, who plays for English side Manchester City, said: “I hope the AFC Women’s Asian Cup will offer the best conditions and make progress in the area of prize money, so it is as close as possible to the men’s.”
The men’s tournament in 2024 had a total prize pool of US$14.8 million for 24 teams.
The Women’s Asian Cup prize money is also far lower than that of European women’s tournaments, with the 2025 Women’s Euro offering a US$47.2 million prize pool.
“The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup should generate sufficient revenue for the AFC to be able to improve the pay and conditions for players at the tournament,” the Fifpro division said in a report.
Shoko Tsuji, secretary-general of Fifpro Asia/Oceania, underlined the need for continued constructive dialogue with the AFC, given that the Asian region risks falling behind other continents under the current circumstances.
Meanwhile in Group A of the Asian Cup on March 8, Australia and South Korea played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in their final group-stage game.
Mun Eun-ju gave the South Koreans the lead after 13 minutes but Alanna Kennedy equalised for the hosts from close range not long after the half-hour mark. Star forward Sam Kerr then put the Matildas 2-1 ahead with a clinical finish just before half-time.
South Korea levelled the tie from the penalty spot via Kim Shin-ji on 53 minutes, after Australian defender Courtney Nevin was penalised for blocking a shot from Kang Chae-rim with her arm. Kang got on the score sheet herself three minutes later, finding the net with a delightful low shot.
The 2022 runners-up looked set to come away with a victory until Kennedy completed her brace eight minutes into injury time, pouncing on a loose ball to fire into the top corner.
Despite the draw, South Korea top the group ahead of Australia on goal difference as both teams – who had already qualified for the quarter-finals – finish on seven points.
The Philippines sit in third following their pivotal 2-0 win over Iran on the same day, staying in the hunt for a possible place in the knockout stage as two of the best third-placed teams in the group stage. KYODO NEWS
