FIFA has decided to considerably increase the funds earmarked for the preparation of the 32 participating teams. A historic sum, now equivalent to that granted to the men’s teams at the 2026 World Cup, and one that even exceeds the prize money promised to the African champions!

Women’s football continues its financial rise. Eight months before the kick-off of the 2027 World Cup, scheduled from 24 June to 25 July in Brazil, FIFA announced on Thursday a significant increase in the sums paid to participating federations. A real financial windfall therefore awaits the four qualified African teams. Under the new provisions approved by the Bureau of the FIFA Council, each qualified federation will receive $2.5 million (about €2.15 million) to prepare for the competition.

That is the same amount granted to the 48 participants in the 2026 men’s World Cup, and it will be made available to the federations before next December.

In total, $10 million will therefore be paid to the four African representatives for preparation alone. These sums do not include the tournament’s participation or performance bonuses, the details of which are still to be set out in December. FIFA also announced improvements to the minimum guaranteed pay for players, compensation for clubs and the conditions for participants, who must enjoy services equivalent to those provided to the men at the 2026 World Cup.

A sum greater than the prize for winning the Women’s AFCON!

To gauge the significance of this announcement, one need only compare these amounts with the rewards handed out at the last Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Last July, CAF had nonetheless announced a historic 67% increase in its overall prize pot, which rose from $3.475 million to $5.8 million. African champions Cameroon thus received $2 million, against $750,000 for the beaten finalists, Malawi, and $500,000 for Algeria, who finished third. Morocco, in fourth, received slightly less. In other words, the $2.5 million promised by FIFA for preparation alone is $500,000 more than the prize for the continental title! It now remains to be seen how the federations will use this windfall. For beyond preparing for the World Cup, the challenge will also be to turn these millions of dollars into lasting investment in African women’s football.

With Afrik-Foot