FIFA boosts Women’s World Cup funding as African qualifiers receive $2.5m each

Morocco, Algeria, Cameroon and Malawi will each receive $2.5m (£2.15m) from FIFA to prepare for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The funding package is a major increase for the 32 teams competing at the tournament and matches the amount allocated to each of the 48 nations taking part in the 2026 men’s World Cup.

The four African federations will receive their money before December, meaning $10m will be distributed among them for preparations alone.

The 2027 Women’s World Cup will be staged in Brazil from 24 June to 25 July, with the funding announcement coming eight months before the tournament begins. FIFA approved the new arrangements on Thursday following a decision by the Bureau of the FIFA Council.

The $2.5m payments are separate from the participation and performance bonuses that will be available during the competition. FIFA said the detailed structure for those payments will be confirmed in December.

As part of the same announcement, FIFA also pledged higher minimum guaranteed payments for players, increased compensation for clubs and improved tournament conditions for participating teams. Those arrangements are intended to provide services equivalent to those offered to the men at the 2026 World Cup.

The scale of the increase can be seen by comparing it with the prize money awarded at the most recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

In July, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) increased the competition’s overall prize fund by 67%, taking it from $3.475m to $5.8m.

African champions Cameroon received $2m, while runners-up Malawi were awarded $750,000. Algeria, who finished third, collected $500,000, and fourth-placed Morocco received slightly less.

That means the $2.5m allocated by FIFA to each federation for World Cup preparations is $500,000 more than the prize awarded to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations winners.

The next challenge will be how the four federations use the additional funding. Beyond preparing their teams for the World Cup, the money could provide an opportunity for longer-term investment in women’s football across Africa.