Key Points
- This year’s Women's World Cup has seen record-breaking crowd numbers, broadcast ratings and jersey sales.
- But a stark disparity remains between the prize pool on offer for the women compared to their male counterparts.
- FIFA announced the total prize money for the women’s tournament is US$110 million ($170 million).
This year’s home Women's World Cup tournament has produced a groundswell of support for the Australian team, and for women’s sport, with record-breaking crowd numbers, broadcast ratings and jersey sales.
Despite this, a stark disparity remains between the prize pool on offer for the women compared to their male counterparts.
Here’s how much the winners will take home, along with other facts about the World Cup - from previous winners, to first wins and number of footballs used.
What prize money is on offer for the Women’s World Cup?
Earlier this year, global football body FIFA, the organiser of the World Cup, announced the total prize money for the women’s tournament was US$110 million ($170 million).
It was part of a US$152 million ($235 million) package including preparation funding and club benefits.
This year’s amount is almost four times the US$30 million offered in 2019, and about seven times more than 2015, when it was US$15 million .
Despite this, it remains around one quarter of the US$440 million ($682 million) that the men’s teams competed for in Qatar last year.
Total prize money on offer for the 2022 Men's World Cup and the 2023 Women's World Cup. Source: SBS News
A victory for the Matildas in Sunday’s final would mean governing body Football Australia (FA) receives US$4.3 million ($6.6 million). This compares to the US$42 million ($64.6 million) earned by Argentina for winning the men’s tournament last year.
This year, FIFA will also allocate individual payments to players, on top of what their teams stand to earn.
Players will earn at least US$30,000 ($47,000) for being part of the group stage, and this amount increases based on their progress through the tournament.
Making it through the quarter-finals will mean the Matildas each earn at least US$90,000 ($140,000). That would increase to US$270,000 ($419,000) if they reach and win the final.
Prize money for FIFA Women's and Men's World Cups since 2006. Source: SBS News
In it, the players reflect on the fights for which past and present Matildas had fought.
The Matildas' and Socceroos' collective bargaining agreement with FA guarantees each team the same minimum percentage of prize money from tournaments.
"Collective bargaining has allowed us to ensure we now get the same conditions as the Socceroos, with one exception," midfielder Tameka Yallop says in the video.
The US won the 2019 Women's World Cup after being the Netherlands in the final in Lyon, France. Source: Getty / Marc Atkins
FIFA is aiming for prize money parity by the time of the next men's and women's World Cups in 2026 and 2027 respectively, helped along by a decision to separate the women’s broadcast rights from the men’s for the first time.
"Without the sponsors, without broadcasters, there is very little we can do to match all the requirements and also [pursue] equal pay and treat men and women equally,” FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura told the ABC in May. “We need them."
How many people have attended the Women’s World Cup so far?
This year’s Women’s World Cup has seen record attendances so far - and the numbers continue to grow.
According to the latest figures from FIFA, 1.77 million tickets have been sold and total match attendance across 60 of 64 matches sits at 1,734,028.
The highest match attendance to date has been 75,784 on three occasions (each time in Sydney), with the average being 28,900.
Match attendance across Women's World Cups from 1991 to 2023. Source: SBS News
And, the Matildas have been attracting record-breaking numbers, with Saturday night’s penalty shoot-out victory over France , according to Channel Seven.
Preliminary figures show an average of 4.17 million people were watching the match in Brisbane, with a peak audience of 7.2 million.
About 472,000 others tuned in on Seven’s streaming platform 7plus, making it the top streaming event ever seen in Australia.
Preliminary television ratings show an average of about 4.17 million people were watching the Matildas take on France. Source: SBS News
How many Matildas jerseys have been sold?
Matildas fans are buying jerseys in “record-breaking” numbers, according to Nike, one of the two biggest kit manufacturers in women’s football.
On Wednesday, Nike said there has been unprecedented demand for the team’s jersey, with 13 times as many sold to date in the Australian marketplace as were sold before, during and after the 2019 tournament.
“To see Australians of all ages rally around the Matildas is a catalysing time for women’s sport and these unprecedented jersey sales only cement their status as national icons,” Nike Pacific vice president and general manager Ashley Reade said.
Who has won the Women’s World Cup before?
The Women’s World Cup was officially recognised by FIFA in 1991, with the tournament entering its ninth rendition in 2023.
The USA has been a dominant force, taking out four titles in the first eight tournaments: 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019.
Other victorious countries include Norway (1995), Germany (2003 and 2007), and Japan (2011).
Past winners of the FIFA Women's World Cup since 1991. Source: SBS News
Which teams have had their first win at a World Cup tournament?
Several teams - and tournament debutants - have recorded their first-ever wins at a Women’s World Cup this year.
New Zealand kickstarted their campaign with a 1-0 win against Norway in the group A opener - the team’s first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup victory.
Jamaica also claimed their first ever tournament win, defeating Panama 1-0 in the group stage. The squad went on to become the first Caribbean nation to reach the Round of 16, after ending Brazil’s campaign with a 0-0 draw. They bowed out with a 1-0 loss to Colombia.
Several teams have had their first World Cup win in this year's tournament. Source: SBS News
Player Nouhaila Benzina also made history as . France defeated Morocco in their Round of 16 clash.
Which teams have scored the most goals?
Alongside the team glory, the Golden Boot will be awarded to the player who scores the most goals at the Women’s World Cup.
So, how are the teams faring so far?
Highest goal-scoring teams from the Women's World Cup up to and including the quarter-finals. Source: SBS News
The Matildas have scored nine goals so far.
How many footballs have been used?
The number of footballs used in the group stage of the Women's World Cup. Source: SBS News
In the Women’s World Cup group stage, it said 1,536 Adidas footballs were provided to teams for training, and 1,280 official match balls were used.
