World Cup: USA Women bank $6.5m for men’s team reaching last-16 through equal pay agreement
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REVEALED: US women made $6.5 million after the men’s team reached the last 16 of the World Cup as part of their equal pay agreement…which gave them more prize money than winning the last TWO women’s tournaments combined
American women will receive $6.5 million (£5.4 million) for reaching the last 16 of the men’s World Cup as part of the equal pay agreement struck earlier this year.
The USMNT extended their stay in Qatar on Tuesday night after a vital 1-0 victory over Iran that saw them progress to the knockout stages of this year’s World Cup.
By being promoted to the last 16, US Soccer has guaranteed an estimated $13 million (£11 million) in prize money, half of which will go to their women’s team via the equal pay agreement.
Having struck the groundbreaking agreement earlier this year, the US became the first federation in history to split their World Cup prize money between their two main national teams in what they describe as a “true historic moment.”
That means USA Women will bank at least $6.5 million after the men’s team success on Tuesday, having already earned $4.5 million (£3.7 million) for their participation in the group stage.
USA Women (L) earned $6.5 million (£5.4 million) for the men’s team (R) that reached the World Cup final 16
Christian Pulisic’s winner against Iran booked USMNT’s place in the last 16 of the World Cup
Under the country’s equal pay agreement, the USWNT will take home half of the prize money
And more will come when Gregg Berhalter’s team gets past the Netherlands in their round of 16 on Saturday.
If they reach the quarter-finals, the US will earn their country another $17 million (£14 million), which would be split into $8.5 million (£7 million) for each team.
The countries that finish in third and fourth place will receive $27 million (£22 million) and $25 million (£21 million) respectively, while the runner-up will have to collect $30 million (£25 million).
This year’s World Cup winner is set to earn a whopping $42 million (£35 million).
Regardless of how the US fares for the rest of the tournament, the women’s team has already earned more from progressing to the last 16 than from winning their own tournaments in 2015 and 2019 combined.
The USWNT took home $2 million and $4 million (£3 million) for those triumphs, giving them a total prize of $6 million (£5 million).
Total prize money for the 2019 Women’s World Cup was $30 million (£25 million), while the men’s edition was more than 14 times that amount at $440 million (£367 million).