Infantino warns that not all WWC2023 players will get their $30K prize money
July 19 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has warned his organisation can’t guarantee that players will get their prize money at the Women’s World Cup.
Women
First Nations and Maoris accuse FIFA of using them as a WWC PR stunt
By Samindra Kunti in Sydney
July 18 – Questions are being asked over FIFA’s commitment to First Nations and Maori soccer communities via the Women’s World Cup that kick off this week, with criticism that they are being used as a PR stunt without any real impact on their own football futures and wider acknowledgment of self-determination.
Women behaving badly: Ireland and Colombia abandon (un)friendly, Spanish apologise for disrespecting Haka
July 17 – A women’s World Cup warm-up game at the weekend between the Republic of Ireland and Colombia was called after 20 minutes because of “overly physical” challenges.
Aussie women hold FIFA to account over gender World Cup prize money gap
By Samindra Kunti in Sydney
July 17 – Australia’s women’s team have called FIFA out over the prize money gender gap with the men’s game, following their last friendly before the World Cup, where the Australians beat France 1-0.
Women’s World Cup giveaway. 2023 sponsor Xero to hand out 20,000 free tickets in NZ
July 13 – FIFA has been forced to take the drastic step of giving away 20,000 free tickets for Women’s World Cup games in four New Zealand cities amid concerns about the slow pace of sales.
Carney report calls for fully professional top two ties of English women’s club game
July 13 – Former England international Karen Carney has called for the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship – the two top divisions of the domestic game – to become fully professional in order to bring about the necessary investment.
Clock ticking on countdown to WWC2023, and so is TikTok
July 13 – FIFA has partnered with TikTok to deliver tailored content from Australia and New Zealand during the Women’s World Cup that kicks off July 20.
US land in Auckland as WWC teams gather for July 20 kick off
July 11 – On the back of a 2-0 friendly win against Wales, world champions the United States have arrived in New Zealand for this summer’s Women’s World Cup.
Megan Rapinoe to retire at end of 2023 season
July 10 – Megan Rapinoe, the star of American women’s football and two-time World Cup winner, has announced she will retire at the end of the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season.
FIFA to fly First Nations and Māori flags at all World Cup 2023 venues
July 8 – With the Women’s World Cup now under two weeks away from kick off, FIFA has announced that the indigenous flags of Aborignal Australia and Maori New Zealand will be be flown at matches in their countries.
Motsepe Foundation makes donation to break South African women’s pre-World Cup strike
July 7 – The South Africa Football Association (SAFA) says a pay dispute with its Women’s World Cup squad has been resolved after a charity set up by Confederation of African Football president and billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe stepped in.
FIFA plugs in Yadea for first Women’s World Cup sponsorship
July 4 – FIFA has announced Yadea, producer of two-wheeled vehicles including electric-powered motorcycles, bicycles and scooters, as a Tournament Supporter in the Asia-Pacific region for the Women’s World Cup 2023 that kicks off later this month.
Rapinoe says World Cup 2023 will ‘blow the lid off’ business of women’s football
June 29 – US women’s star Megan Rapinoe (pictured) believes the upcoming World Cup will act as a game-changing watershed for the sport.
FIFA’s Bareman puts focus on lifting New Zealand World cup ticket sales
June 22 – FIFA says Women’s World Cup co-hosts New Zealand need to up their game over ticket sales in the coming weeks.
Sinclair pushes Canadian Soccer for pay deal before team leaves for World Cup
June 22 – Canada’s national team want a pay dispute settled before leaving for the Women’s World Cup, which Australia and New Zealand will co-host this summer.