FA Calls for Equal Prize Money in Women’s and Men’s FA Cup Amidst Growing Pressure
A growing campaign is demanding equal prize money for women’s and men’s teams in the FA Cup, highlighting a meaningful disparity in financial rewards despite identical competition rules. The call for parity comes as the Football Association (FA) demonstrates commitment to equality in other areas of the game, including equal pay for England’s men’s and women’s national teams.
One club, Equality FC, became the first – and remains the only – professional or semi-professional club in the country to equally resource its women’s and men’s teams. Since 2019, they have actively campaigned for equal FA Cup prize money, framing it not as a symbolic gesture but as a strategic imperative.
Currently, the financial gap is ample. A men’s team winning in the second round of the FA Cup receives £79,500, while the women’s team receives just £8,000 – a difference of £71,500. The disparity exists across all rounds: £41,750 in the first round and £86,500 in the third round.
Critics dismiss calls for equal prize funds citing “commercial reality,” “revenue difference,” and “complicated” factors. However, advocates argue the FA directly controls the prize fund and could equalize it promptly. The FA does not take a share of gate receipts, rendering attendance arguments irrelevant to prize money allocation.
The FA has historically been unresponsive to requests for clarification, but has recently shown increased receptivity. The organization already implements equal pay for equal performance, having paid the women’s and men’s England teams the same match fees and bonuses as 2020. Moreover, the FA’s ‘Reaching Higher: Women’s & Girls’ Game Strategy 2024-28’ pledges to “deliver equal opportunities” and “build robust, high-quality competition structures.”
The central argument is that if the FA Cup is truly “the game’s great leveller,” as it promotes itself, the financial rewards should reflect that principle.
