Sports
FIFA wants 32-team Women’s World Cup with bigger prize money
The FIFA Women’s World Cup is set to be expanded to 32 teams and would have its prize money doubled, according to Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
Infantino, who called the ongoing tournament “the best women’s World Cup ever” wants to increase the size and prize money, and also launch a women’s Club World Cup.
The football chief set out a five-point plan to make sure football “seizes this opportunity.”
Bidding for the 2023 tournament – which has yet to be allocated and was set to contain 24 sides – may have to restart to accommodate the extra teams.
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“It’s a great thing, this World Cup, but then people forget, they do other things. It’s our job to make sure that they don’t forget and we don’t just say: ‘See you in four years,” said the 49-year-old Swiss-Italian.
“That’s why I propose to the Fifa council and to all our members – who have to embrace the development of women’s football.
“We have already more than doubled the prize money for the World Cup this year, but we will double it again for the next World Cup – I am very confident that we can do that.
“We will have to act quickly to decide if we are to increase it for 2023. If we do, we should reopen the bidding process to allow everyone to have a chance or maybe co-host. Nothing is impossible.”
On the Club World Cup, Infantino said it might begin in 2020, and that “it can be played every year to expose clubs all over the world. Clubs would invest even more in women’s football to shine on the world stage.”
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