FA Increases Women’s Football Prize Fund

The FA has announced that they are increasing the Women’s FA Cup prize money to £3m a year from next season.

Although details around how the prize money will be allocated across the competition have not been confirmed, this figure is significantly higher than the £400k prize pot that currently exists.

The news comes after the FA initially announced in January that the ‘significant’ increase had been agreed, following heavy criticism of the disparity between the prize money for the men’s and women’s game. The overall fund for the men’s game currently sits at £16m.

The FA’s Director of Women’s Football Baroness, Sue Campbell, said, “I’m delighted to be able to make this announcement of increased funding for the Vitality Women’s FA Cup because it’s going to benefit so many clubs across the women’s football pyramid.

“The FA Cup, whether men’s or women’s, is the biggest and best domestic cup competition in the world, and this increased investment from the FA highlights that we want clubs competing in it to be rewarded, while also highlighting our ongoing commitment to the women’s game.”

Campbell also added some information on the allocation of the funds, “One commitment that the FA will be making, is that a disproportionate amount of this new fund will be invested into the early rounds of the competition. This will ensure those clubs further down the pyramid entering those rounds, really feel the benefit of the prize money earned.”

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