The United States women's national team celebrates after they beat Japan in the FIFA Women's World Cup soccer final in Vancouver on July 5, 2015.Elaine Thompson/The Associated Press
In a concession to women’s soccer, FIFA will start funding business-class flights for some 2019 Women’s World Cup teams’ travel to France.
FIFA official Emily Shaw also tells a women’s sports law conference total prize money will “significantly increase” from US$15-million shared among 24 teams at the 2015 edition.
She says the total sum will be confirmed by the FIFA Council, which meets from Oct. 25-26 in Rwanda.
FIFA has been urged to close an equality gap between women’s and men’s World Cups. The 32 men’s teams will share US$440-million prize money in 2022.
Currently, FIFA offers “business-class return flights for 50 people” to all men’s World Cup delegations.
Shaw, FIFA’s head of women’s soccer governance, says flight upgrades will be paid except for team flights under four hours.