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Women's Asian Cup Prize Money Stagnates Despite Growth in Women's Football

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AFC Maintains Women's Asian Cup Prize Money Amidst Player Calls for Increase

The upcoming Women's Asian Cup will not see an increase in prize money from the US$1.8 million distributed at the last edition four years ago. This decision by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) comes despite multiple player requests for an increase, coinciding with a global rise in women's football.

Prize Money Stagnates and Disparity

  • The 2022 Women's Asian Cup marked the first time prize money was introduced for the tournament, totaling US$1.8 million for the top four nations.
  • The AFC has stated that the prize money for the 2024 edition will remain consistent with previous editions.
  • In stark contrast, the 2023 men's Asian Cup allocated US$14.8 million, plus a US$200,000 participation fee for each of the 24 teams.

Player and Union Response

Player dissatisfaction with the static prize money is evident, leading to organized efforts for change:

  • A Fifpro survey following the 2022 tournament indicated that 87% of players desired improvements in pay and prize money.
  • Players from most teams competing this year signed an open letter requesting consultation on prize money, which did not occur.
  • A public campaign addressing the disparity is reportedly being planned.

Global Context and AFC's Rationale

The Women's Asian Cup is currently the lowest-paying continental tournament for women's football globally.

  • Other continental tournaments offer significantly higher prize pots:
    • The 2025 Women's European Championships: US$47.2 million
    • The 2024 Women's African Cup of Nations: US$3.475 million

An AFC spokesperson stated that the current strategy focuses on long-term development of women's football in Asia. The AFC noted that prize funds are tied to commercial revenues like broadcasting and sponsorships, and the revenue generated by the Women's Asian Cup is still growing.

Shoko Tsuji, secretary general of Fifpro Asia/Oceania, criticized the AFC's justification, arguing that a world-class event should not ask players to wait for future improvements, especially given the rapid investment in other regions and the tournament's commercial potential.

Related AFC Initiatives

The AFC also manages other women's football initiatives, such as the newer Women's Asian Champions League, a club tournament. This competition features a total prize pot of US$1.5 million for the winner and runner-up, with US$100,000 for group stage participants.