Women’s Asian Cup finalists Japan and Australia have reiterated their call for equal prize money between the men’s and women’s tournaments, directly challenging the Asian Football Confederation. The teams accused the governing body of disregarding their previous appeals. Japan emerged victorious over hosts Australia with a 1-0 win in the final held in Sydney on March 21, attracting a record-breaking crowd of over 74,000 spectators.
The tournament garnered global attention when seven members of the Iran team sought asylum after facing backlash in their home country for not singing the national anthem. Despite the success of the Women’s Asian Cup, the prize fund for the event was reported at $1.8 million, significantly lower than the $14.8 million awarded in the men’s competition. A report by FIFPRO suggested that the tournament could bring in revenue of up to $82.4 million.
Throughout the three-week event, a record 350,000 fans attended matches, emphasizing the growing interest in women’s football. In a joint statement by FIFPRO, both Japan and Australia expressed disappointment in the persistent disparity in prize money between men’s and women’s tournaments. They called for equal prize money as a transformative step that would benefit players and football communities across Asia, elevating standards in the sport.
The statement underscored the need for the AFC and players to collaborate on addressing challenges faced during the tournament, including the Iranian team’s situation and issues such as ill-fitting kits for India’s players. The South Korean squad had also raised concerns about unequal treatment compared to their male counterparts. Looking ahead, the teams urged FIFA to fulfill its commitment to equal prize money for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and vowed to continue advocating for equality and respect for women players in the region.
AFP has reached out to the AFC for comments on the matter.