Unequal Grounds: Call for Gender Pay Parity in Women's Asian Cup

Australia and Japan's women's football teams have voiced their frustration over the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) inaction towards gender pay parity as the Women's Asian Cup ended with unprecedented attendance figures.

While the tournament drew significant crowds, the Australian and Japanese teams expressed dissatisfaction with the disparity in prize money, pointing out it represented only 12% of the amount awarded in the men's competition. The criticism was part of a larger call to global sports bodies for equal remuneration in international tournaments.

FIFA has previously pledged gender parity in prize money, a commitment the women's teams expect to be honored at the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. This demand for equal treatment underscores ongoing challenges players face in gaining equal respect and opportunities in the sport.