October 30 – Funding the women’s game is still a battle for equality. FIFA announced a boost to the Women’s World Cup prize fund last week and president Gianni Infantino said that he hoped the women’s World Cup would soon generate similar income levels as the men’s competition.
While that might be something of a rhetorical statement at this stage, greenshoots of women’s sponsorship interest are starting to emerge, with FIFA announcing that Uruguayan telecoms firm Antel has become a national sponsor of the U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The sixth edition of the tournament is to be played in Uruguay 13 November to 1 December 2018 in three host cities: Montevideo, Colonia del Sacramento and Maldonado.
An Antel statement said: “We are very proud of our Uruguayan roots and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is another opportunity for us to support Uruguayan sport and women’s football in particular.”
Antel will receive brand exposure throughout the tournament at venues, as well as use of FIFA marks in the Uruguayan territory and a package of marketing rights. No figure was announced for the sponsorship.
Valentina Prego, General Coordinator of the LOC, said: “It is extremely important for the female game in our country to be able to count on the constant support of a company that resonates with all Uruguayans. Their involvement bears out that women’s football truly offers the ‘same game, same emotion’”.
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