FIFA President Gianni Infantino understands why female footballers are unhappy about the lack of gender equality in World Cup prize money but said Thursday that doubling the cash for finalists to USD 30 million represents significant progress.
Ahead of the FIFA Council on Friday ratifying the financial package for the 2019 Women's World Cup, players unions in Australia, Norway, Sweden and New Zealand wrote to world soccer's governing body to raise concerns about why there is more vastly more cash set aside for the men's showpiece.
"Critical comments are perfectly justified because ... the unions and the players they defend their own interests which is a fair point," Infantino said.
"We need to try to find what is the most balanced way and I think we made a step and there will be many more steps going ahead. Maybe one day women's football will generate more than men's football."
According to Infantino, that is "a significant step in the right direction."
"We are making progress. We have to invest in women's football to make it even self-sustaining to some extent."