The international football association (FIFA) will pay out the equivalent of just over SEK 1.8 billion in prize money in connection with the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
That is three times as much as during the last women’s World Cup, in France 2019.
Also new for this year’s WC is that every player is guaranteed 30,000 dollars (equivalent to approximately SEK 337,000) right from the start. It can have a big impact, not least for the slightly smaller football nations, the Swedish national team stars hope.
— For us in Sweden, who are well off, it is absolutely fine money. But I put myself in the situation of those from countries that may not have as much money, says Chelsea goalkeeper Zecira Musovic.
— How much will this mean to them? Such a sum that could possibly support a whole family, it is a little bigger than just a bundle of money.
Swedish national team goalkeeper Zecira Musovic. believe that the new prize money will mean a lot especially for players from poorer countries. “A sum like that that could possibly support a whole family, it’s a little bigger than just a wad of money,” she says. Long struggle
She is supported by former team-mate Magdalena Eriksson, who recently finished for Bayern Munich.
“It’s one thing that the money has increased, which it one hundred percent should, but then also knowing that there is a dedicated percentage that will go to the players, it feels very good to me,” she says.
— Because okay, we in Sweden may have always had fairly high compensation, but now you know that in every single country the players will get their share as they deserve. It feels a lot of fun and hopefully it is also new practice, which we have had a hand in setting.
Milan star Kosovare Asllani notes that the change came about after a long struggle between the players and the players’ union Fifpro on one side and Fifa on the other. It is also proof that it pays to stand up for one’s cause.
— I’ve never felt that I shouldn’t say anything. We have a platform to make change. The more people who raise their voices, the more change we will see, says Asllani.
— We are breaking barriers in women’s football, but it’s not just us who have done it, it’s also the generation before.
Sees change
In combination with the discussion about the captain’s armbands, where Fifa finally came up with some alternatives that got the thumbs up from the players, the prize money is a sign that the development is going in the right direction, the Swedish players believe.
— Yes, and that is also important. Because we don’t want to fight for the sake of fighting. We want change, and that is what we have been fighting for all this time, says Magdalena Eriksson.
— Not just to argue. It’s not fun, either. Now we see change. Everything is not perfect, there is still a long way to go. But when you see change, that someone is actually trying, then you are happy.