The Women's World Cup Was a Success But The Gender Pay Gap Is Going To Be A Big Problems For FIFA

The United States Womens team steemrolled their opposition once again to take the world cup back to the states for the 4th time. They were way ahead of the other countries but not for long. Great Britain , Sweden and Holland are catching up . It may be a different story in 4 years time but for now the United States have been ruthless in their world cup bid.


The Americans celebrated every goal in this the 12-0 victory. Many people thought it was a bit much. They are seen to be a ruthless bunch who will do anything it takes to win. They should have learned a bit of humility from the German men's team that went easy on Brazil in the second half of the world cup semi final in 2014 after going 7-0 up.


So here's the thing. The American ladies team are very very good. So good that the ladies matches are earning more revenue for the US soccer Federation than the mens national team are. That is some fact right there!! But guess what the men are still getting paid alot more even though they bring in less.

From 2016 to 2018, USWNT matches have generated a total revenue of $50.8m in comparison with the $49.9m attributed to the US mens national team (USMNT), according to U.S. Soccer's audited financial statements.

TV rights are hard to call however as the American governing football body sell their TV packages with both genders included but the above facts have prompted the 28 members of the US Women National Team (USWNT) to file a lawsuit against the US soccer Federation for gender discrimination. The womens team make only 38% of the what the mens team make in compensation which is a bit mad considering they are bringing in more revenue. And how can the US soccer federation argue with this?

But the story runs deeper than this. FIFA will have to start addressing this gender discrimination pretty soon. The prize money for the upcoming mens world cup in 2022 is upward of 450 million. The prize money up for grabs for the womens world cup is 66 million. A huge gap. Now we know there will be more money up for grabs with the TV rights but there still is a massive divide here.

Nevertheless the world cup has still been a sucess but there are problems bubbling under the surface. The first female Ballon D'or winner Norwegian Ada Hegerberg refused to play in this world cup because after the last world cup she was so frustrated by the lack of funding the Norwegian FA had given the international ladies team.

So this will all come to a head pretty soon. FIFA have plenty money in their pockets so they need to pay what the ladies deserve if they are playing in successful tournaments like this years world cup. But I see things improving in my locality. Scotland and England are after really taking to the women's game. Phil Neville is managing the ladies English team which is a high profile appointment. Although 2 days before he was appointed them he followed each member of the ladies team on Twitter. Nicely done Phil.
With a successful world cup comes its downsides. Diving used to never be part of the ladies game and now there has been some clear cut dives which is not good. But thats what you get with professional sport. Lets hope that the pay gaps get sorted out. I am by no means saying that it should be 50/50 because the mens gave is more popular. That is a fact of the matter. But if a ladies team are bringing in more money than the men's team then the governing body should be looking at this and asking questions. They should be paid an awful lot more.