November 5 – Australia’s women’s national team, The Matildas, are in the edge of securing a deal that will see them paid the same as their male counterparts, the Socceroos.
The agreement between the Football Federation Australia (FFA), and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), the national players’ body, is expected to be formally announced at the end of this week.
At the 2019 World Cup in France The Matildas earned $1 million from reaching the knock out rounds. In comparison the Socceroos took home $8 million from the Russia 2018 World Cup where they failed to progress from the group stage having not won a game.
FIFA has acted to raise prize money for the Women’s World Cup – doubled to $60 million for the 2023 edition – but in real terms it is still trailing the men’s prize pot, which will grow by $40 million to $440 million for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
By taking a stronger stand on gender parity in Australia – even though the men’s game generates more revenue that the women’s – the Australians are bringing in a model that will see the men’s and women’s teams share 40% of commercial revenue generated by the two teams as well as splitting 40% of prize money.
Australian soccer is going through a period of major change with both the men’s and women’s professional leagues under the control of their own club-led organisations (rather than the FFA), including the control of their own commercial rights agreements.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr said: “Obviously it’s a welcome investment into women’s football and we’re really excited about it. It hasn’t been finalised so hopefully we can get the deal over the edge, but yeah, it’s exciting.”
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