Rhiannon Ingle
FIFA has just announced plans to pay male and female World Cup winners equally by 2027.
The news was confirmed by the association's president, Gianni Infantino, who has since criticised broadcasters 'offering 100x less' on TV contracts covering the upcoming women's World Cup.
Infantino has addressed his plans to close the gender pay gap between winners within the next four years after actively setting aside a target of equal prize money between both male and female players.
The news follows Infantino getting re-elected by acclamation at the historic 73rd FIFA Congress in Kigali, Rwanda. He will now govern the body for another four years.
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Speaking immediately after the unopposed re-election, President Infantino said: "Being FIFA President is an incredible honour, an incredible privilege, and it is also a great responsibility.
"I am truly humbled and touched by your support, and I promise you that I will continue serving FIFA, serving football all over the world and serving all 211 FIFA member associations."
Infantino outlined his plans to develop the football association, revealing that the 32-team FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand set to take place later this year will receive 'an extensive increase in prize money', according to an official press release.
This increase has been set to 'over $150 million (approx £125 million)' - more than 'three times' the value from the last tournament in 2019, and 'ten times' more than in 2015.
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That's a whopping 300 percent increase in prize money.
Alongside this, Infantino vouched that approximately $60 million (around £50 million) should be dedicated to paying players alone - mapping out plans to completely close the gender pay gap by the the 2027 World Cup.
With a countdown of a little over three months until the ninth FIFA Women's World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand begin, many of the leading European nations including England, France, Germany are yet to finalise their deal with FIFA in regards to broadcasting the live matches.
In a closing remark at the FIFA Congress, Infantino claimed that 'broadcasters and sponsors have to do more'.
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"FIFA is receiving between ten and hundred times less from public broadcasters for the women's World Cup than the men's World Cup. Do you think that is normal?" he stated.
The association's president continued: "At the same, these public broadcasters who are paid by the taxpayers money, they criticize FIFA, a bit less the others, for not guaranteeing equal pay to men and women."
Infantino added: 'Women deserve much, much more than that and we are there to fight for them and with them."
FIFPRO has since released a follow-up statement on the matter, highlighting the importance of 'equal regulations and conditions, fair redistribution of prize money to players, and a pathway to equal prize money'.
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The body concluded their statement with: "Together, we can create lasting change, leaving a legacy inspired by solidarity and collectivism."