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A16 SPORTS
Wednesday 16 november 2022
World Cup prize money disparity is an obstacle to Equal Pay

By ANNE M. PETERSON lion for winning the 2018
AP Sports Writer World Cup in Russia, dis-
World Cup prize money tributed $11 million be-
continues to be a sticking tween the 23 players on the
point for equality in soccer, squad.
despite the historic equal In contrast, the U.S. women
pay agreement between have been more successful
U.S. Soccer and its men’s than the men, winning the
and women’s teams. last two World Cups. The
Earlier this year, the U.S. U.S. men failed to qualify
national teams decided for the 2018 tournament in
to split prize money, which Russia.
means that the haul from “If the (U.S.) women con-
playing in the sport’s most tinue to do better than the
prestigious tournaments men, it’s not really hurting
will be distributed equally the men. Even though the
between players for both men get more, the women
teams after the federation can actually contribute just
takes a cut off the top. as much if they keep go-
It was a landmark agree- ing,” Neirotti said.
ment, hailed as an impor- “But it’s not always the
tant step for equality even same economics in other
beyond sports. But other countries those other coun-
nations haven’t followed The United States’ team celebrates with the trophy after winning the Women’s World Cup final tries where the men go fur-
suit. soccer match against The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, July ther in the tournament and
7, 2019.
At the heart of the matter Associated Press thus generate a larger prize
is the huge disparity in prize pool. So obviously the eco-
money between the men’s secretary-general Fatma World Cup prize money Lisa Delpy Neirotti, associ- nomics of coupling that
and women’s tournaments Samoura recently sug- hasn’t been part of those ate professor of Sport Man- with women would prob-

and how it is eventually gested that the final prize deals. agement at George Wash- ably be more significantly
passed on by federations money total for the women Brazil announced equal ington University, said there hurting the men than the
to their players. could be greater. pay for its men’s and wom- is a three-pronged ap- women.”
FIFA has earmarked $440 “Today, the men’s World en’s teams in 2020 but proach for equal pay: Pub- Players like Alex Morgan,
million in prize money for Cup is the one that is fund- the agreement pays the lic sentiment has to be for Megan Rapinoe and Becky
this year’s men’s World ing all the FIFA competi- women a “proportionate- it, the women have to be Sauerbrunn tirelessly cam-
Cup. The winner in Qatar tions, including the Wom- ly equal” amount or the unified in their demands, paigned for pay equity,
will take home $42 million. en’s World Cup. But we same percentage of World and the players needs al- spurring chants of “Equal
The U.S. women won $4 mil- have seen new trends in Cup prize money. lies, as in the case of the Pay” at the World Cup final
lion from a $30 million pot terms of revenues,” she In July, Spain’s federation U.S. men’s team. three years ago in France
at the 2019 Women’s World said at an event in Sydney. also agreed to give its fe- That might be a tough ask and gaining public support.
Cup. FIFA president Gianni Some countries including male players a percent- in countries like France Then the women worked
Infantino has proposed Australia, Ireland, Brazil, age of bonuses equal to and Germany, both suc- with the men’s union to
doubling the prize money Norway and others have the men’s side, as well as cessful World Cup nations, forge an agreement, se-
for the 2023 event, but the made significant strides earnings from sponsorships, because the men’s team curing both sides a larger
field has expanded from 24 toward equal match and image rights and improved would give up a lucrative share of the overall prize
to 32 teams. appearance fees, but an working conditions. It did payday. money after the federa-
That could change. FIFA equal division of pooled not reveal specifics. France, which won $38 mil- tion’s stake. q

Nadal loses to Auger-Aliassime, on brink of ATP Finals exit

TURIN, Italy (AP) — Rafael attempts. Nadal had already wasted
Nadal’s error-strewn per- Nadal was beaten by four break points, including
formance damaged his eighth-seeded Taylor Fritz two in the first game.
chances Tuesday of add- of the United States in their Auger-Aliassime served out
ing the ATP Finals trophy to opening match on Sunday. for the set and went on to
his glittering list of titles. The fifth-seeded Auger-Ali- break Nadal’s serve again
The top-seeded Nadal assime also lost his opener, in the third game of the
lost 6-3, 6-4 to tournament to Casper Ruud, and so second set. The Canadian
debutant Felix Auger-Alias- Tuesday’s match was cru- sealed the match at his first
sime to leave him with two cial to both players’ hopes opportunity when Nadal hit
straight defeats in Turin. of staying in the tourna- a return into the net.
The 36-year-old Nadal ment. Nadal could be eliminated
has now lost four straight The turning point came in from the tournament later
matches for only the sec- the eighth game. Nadal unless Fritz beats the third-
ond time in his career, fol- was 40-0 up on his serve but seeded Ruud in two sets.
lowing defeats at the U.S. two double-faults and a Nadal has never won the
Open and Paris. string of errors handed Au- ATP Finals title in 10 at- Rafael Nadal reacts during his singles tennis match with Felix
It was Auger-Aliassime’s first ger-Aliassime the first break tempts. He finished runner- Auger-Aliassime at the ATP World Tour Finals, at the Pala Alpitour
victory over Nadal in three of the match. up in 2010 and 2013.q in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022.
Associated Press