U.S. Women's Soccer captain Megan Rapinoe slams FIFA over proposal for $60million World Cup prize money - as men's winnings will balloon to $440million in 2022
By Josh Saunders For Dailymail.com and Reuters10:59 EDT 06 Jul 2019, updated 02:41 EDT 07 Jul 2019
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The Team USA team captain's comments came after the world soccer governing body president Gianni Infantino suggested increasing the total prize money to $60 million.
Meanwhile the men's edition in Russia last year had a total of $400 million, and for the Qatar World Cup in 2022 that figure will rise again by an additional $40 million.
Rapinoe said that the disparity was 'certainly not fair' on the eve of the women's final between Team USA and the Netherlands.
'We should double it now and then use that number to double it or quadruple it for the next time' she said. 'That's what I mean when I talk about do we feel respected?
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'If you really care about each game in the same way, are you letting the gap grow? I'm not saying the prize money is $450 million this time or next time around, I understand that for a lot of different reasons, the men's game financially is far advanced than the women's game.'
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (above) suggested doubling the women's World Cup prize money to $60 million, meanwhile the men's will receive $440 million for the Qatar World Cup
Team USA captain Megan Rapinoe (above) has deemed the proposal disrespectful and claims the support has shown that more money deserved to be invested into the women's game
Rapinoe believed that also scheduling two other major soccer finals - Copa America and the Gold Cup - on the same day as the women's soccer final was disrespecting the game
'Based on the success of this World Cup of course we have to believe bigger and to do what we should have done already probably some time ago,' he added.
'But now we have the evidence to do it for women's football.'
Infantino will also propose the combined prize money, team preparation funding and cash for clubs releasing players to the women's World Cup to $100 million - a $50 million increase from France.
However, the male sport for Qatar 2022 will see those funds go up to $649 million.
FIFA's cash reserves at the end of 2018 stood at $2.74 billion.
Rapinoe admitted the funding issue was a 'very complex problem' but that it was a matter of 'wanting and caring enough to make it happen.'
She said: 'But the resources are there and I think the willingness and the brain power is all there, the people wanting to work in the women's game and make it as good as we can, it's all there.
'I mean, we're making a World Cup in Qatar happen. '
The Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, where the next men's World Cup will be held
Rapinoe said that if FIFA really 'cared and wanted' to close the wealth gap and the disparity in treatment between the men's and women's game they could
She has taken offence of the proposal to double the women's prize money to $60 million, while the men's game will rise to $440 million for the Qatar 2022 World Cup
The women's World Cup prize money will be $60 million, where as the men's game in Qatar could rise to $440 million. Here the Al Wakrah Stadium that will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Approval to expand the field for the 2023 Women's World Cup will need to advance soon as bidding is already underway.
Nine countries have expressed interest in hosting, with all formal bids due by October 4. From there the 37-member FIFA Council will vote next March.
Rapinoe also described FIFA's decision to allow the Copa America final and the CONCACAF's Gold Cup final to take place on the same day as the women's final as 'unbelievable.'
'If you really care are you letting the gap grow, are you scheduling three finals on the same day? No, you're not,' Rapinoe said.
'It is terrible scheduling for everyone,' she added. 'As people who work in football, play in football, that is a terrible idea to put everything on the same day. In every way.
'Obviously there are two other finals going on but this is the World Cup final - this is like, cancel everything day.
'So no, I don´t know how it happened, I read somewhere that they said they just didn't think about it - that´s a bit of a problem.'
Rapinoe believes the women's game is being disrespected by FIFA, due to the wealth gap in prize money, scheduling two others games on the day of their finals and more
Megan Rapinoe says 'I don't know' if players will visit the WH
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Despite Rapinoe's objections, the timings will not clash for neither the Copa America final between Brazil and Peru, nor the Gold Cup's between United States and Mexico.
Rapinoe said: 'The World Cup final is set so far in advance it is actually unbelievable.
'So no I don´t think that we feel the same level of respect, certainly that FIFA has for the men and just in general.'
In a statement to Reuters, a FIFA spokesperson said: 'The scheduling of the different events has gone through a comprehensive consultancy process that has involved all key stakeholders and taken into account different aspects of both the women´s and men´s international match calendars.'
'FIFA and the confederations have discussed the respective match schedules in general to minimise any potential timing clashes,' the spokesperson added.
Rapinoe will be back in action for today's final against against the Netherlands, in Lyon, France. Previously she could not play in the semi-finals against England due to injury
Rapinoe stated she would not go to the 'f***ing White House' in an interview
Many teammates support Rapinoe's decision and have also pledged not to attend
US women's soccer star Megan Rapinoe snubs White House visit
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Today's match against the USA and Netherlands will decided the winner of the Women's World Cup.
President Trump deemed Rapinoe's comments disrespectful but offered and invite to Team USA 'win or lose'
The game held in Lyon, France, will kick-off at 11am Eastern Standard Time.
Rapinoe is hopeful to play, after having to miss the semi-finals against England due to an injury.
She previously stated she would not be going to the 'f***ing White House' to be honored by President Trump in a comment to Eight by Eight Magazine.
The led to an online feud between the President and the co-captain who deemed her words 'disrespectful' and believed she should focus on winning the competition first.
He later went onto state that we would offer an invite to the women's team 'win or lose.'
Since then, other team members have stood-by Rapinoe and declared they would not attend the White House either.
Rapinoe is quoted as saying that 'not many, if any' teammates would visit.
By Josh Saunders For Dailymail.com and Reuters10:59 EDT 06 Jul 2019, updated 02:41 EDT 07 Jul 2019
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- Team USA Soccer captain Megan Rapinoe attacked FIFA over its proposed prize money for the Women's World Cup
- The plan by FIFA President Gianni Infantino would see a raise to $60 million, but the men's will be raised to $440 million for the 2022 World Cup
- Rapinoe also criticized the international soccer body for scheduling two other finals on the same day as the women's
- Her comments came on the eve of Team USA's final clash against Netherlands to be declared champions
- Rapinoe has been confirmed as being fit to play, after being forced to miss the semi-finals against England due to injury
- President Trump clashed with Rapinoe previously over a proposed invite to the White House, where she stated she would not 'f***ing go'
- Other teammates have rallied behind Rapinoe and her decision, with the captain stating few if any would accept the invite
The Team USA team captain's comments came after the world soccer governing body president Gianni Infantino suggested increasing the total prize money to $60 million.
Meanwhile the men's edition in Russia last year had a total of $400 million, and for the Qatar World Cup in 2022 that figure will rise again by an additional $40 million.
Rapinoe said that the disparity was 'certainly not fair' on the eve of the women's final between Team USA and the Netherlands.
'We should double it now and then use that number to double it or quadruple it for the next time' she said. 'That's what I mean when I talk about do we feel respected?
ADVERTISING
'If you really care about each game in the same way, are you letting the gap grow? I'm not saying the prize money is $450 million this time or next time around, I understand that for a lot of different reasons, the men's game financially is far advanced than the women's game.'
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (above) suggested doubling the women's World Cup prize money to $60 million, meanwhile the men's will receive $440 million for the Qatar World Cup
Team USA captain Megan Rapinoe (above) has deemed the proposal disrespectful and claims the support has shown that more money deserved to be invested into the women's game
Rapinoe believed that also scheduling two other major soccer finals - Copa America and the Gold Cup - on the same day as the women's soccer final was disrespecting the game
- 1.8kshares
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- Megan Rapinoe says 'not many, if any' of her teammates would accept Trump's invitation to the White House as the squad gears up for tomorrow's World Cup final
- 'I think that I'm particularly and uniquely and very deeply American': U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe defends her refusal to sing the national anthem or visit Trump's White House, as she prepares to return from a hamstring injury for World Cup final
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'Based on the success of this World Cup of course we have to believe bigger and to do what we should have done already probably some time ago,' he added.
'But now we have the evidence to do it for women's football.'
Infantino will also propose the combined prize money, team preparation funding and cash for clubs releasing players to the women's World Cup to $100 million - a $50 million increase from France.
However, the male sport for Qatar 2022 will see those funds go up to $649 million.
FIFA's cash reserves at the end of 2018 stood at $2.74 billion.
Rapinoe admitted the funding issue was a 'very complex problem' but that it was a matter of 'wanting and caring enough to make it happen.'
She said: 'But the resources are there and I think the willingness and the brain power is all there, the people wanting to work in the women's game and make it as good as we can, it's all there.
'I mean, we're making a World Cup in Qatar happen. '
The Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, where the next men's World Cup will be held
Rapinoe said that if FIFA really 'cared and wanted' to close the wealth gap and the disparity in treatment between the men's and women's game they could
She has taken offence of the proposal to double the women's prize money to $60 million, while the men's game will rise to $440 million for the Qatar 2022 World Cup
The women's World Cup prize money will be $60 million, where as the men's game in Qatar could rise to $440 million. Here the Al Wakrah Stadium that will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Approval to expand the field for the 2023 Women's World Cup will need to advance soon as bidding is already underway.
Nine countries have expressed interest in hosting, with all formal bids due by October 4. From there the 37-member FIFA Council will vote next March.
Rapinoe also described FIFA's decision to allow the Copa America final and the CONCACAF's Gold Cup final to take place on the same day as the women's final as 'unbelievable.'
'If you really care are you letting the gap grow, are you scheduling three finals on the same day? No, you're not,' Rapinoe said.
'It is terrible scheduling for everyone,' she added. 'As people who work in football, play in football, that is a terrible idea to put everything on the same day. In every way.
'Obviously there are two other finals going on but this is the World Cup final - this is like, cancel everything day.
'So no, I don´t know how it happened, I read somewhere that they said they just didn't think about it - that´s a bit of a problem.'
Rapinoe believes the women's game is being disrespected by FIFA, due to the wealth gap in prize money, scheduling two others games on the day of their finals and more
Megan Rapinoe says 'I don't know' if players will visit the WH
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Despite Rapinoe's objections, the timings will not clash for neither the Copa America final between Brazil and Peru, nor the Gold Cup's between United States and Mexico.
Rapinoe said: 'The World Cup final is set so far in advance it is actually unbelievable.
'So no I don´t think that we feel the same level of respect, certainly that FIFA has for the men and just in general.'
In a statement to Reuters, a FIFA spokesperson said: 'The scheduling of the different events has gone through a comprehensive consultancy process that has involved all key stakeholders and taken into account different aspects of both the women´s and men´s international match calendars.'
'FIFA and the confederations have discussed the respective match schedules in general to minimise any potential timing clashes,' the spokesperson added.
Rapinoe will be back in action for today's final against against the Netherlands, in Lyon, France. Previously she could not play in the semi-finals against England due to injury
Rapinoe stated she would not go to the 'f***ing White House' in an interview
Many teammates support Rapinoe's decision and have also pledged not to attend
US women's soccer star Megan Rapinoe snubs White House visit
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Today's match against the USA and Netherlands will decided the winner of the Women's World Cup.
President Trump deemed Rapinoe's comments disrespectful but offered and invite to Team USA 'win or lose'
The game held in Lyon, France, will kick-off at 11am Eastern Standard Time.
Rapinoe is hopeful to play, after having to miss the semi-finals against England due to an injury.
She previously stated she would not be going to the 'f***ing White House' to be honored by President Trump in a comment to Eight by Eight Magazine.
The led to an online feud between the President and the co-captain who deemed her words 'disrespectful' and believed she should focus on winning the competition first.
He later went onto state that we would offer an invite to the women's team 'win or lose.'
Since then, other team members have stood-by Rapinoe and declared they would not attend the White House either.
Rapinoe is quoted as saying that 'not many, if any' teammates would visit.
