FA confirms Women’s FA Cup to get huge prize money increase next season

The total prize money pot for the Women’s FA Cup will benefit from a huge increase to £3m with a “disproportionate” amount going into the early rounds of the competition, the Football Association announced on Monday.

As reported in the Guardian on Friday, the competition will see a close to tenfold rise on the £428,915 fund available to the 417 teams competing this season.

“One commitment that The FA will be making, is that a disproportionate amount of this new fund will be invested into the early rounds of the competition,” the FA said. “This will ensure those clubs further down the pyramid entering those rounds, really feel the benefit of the prize money earned.”

The FA Board signed off on the increase last Thursday and it will now begin discussions on how the money is divided and allocated. The Guardian understands that this is new money for competitions and is not being taken from the men’s prize fund or another area of women’s football.

The FA’s director of women’s football, Baroness Sue Campbell, described achieving the landmark investment as one of her “most pleasing days” working in women’s football.

“I’m delighted to be able to make this announcement of increased funding for the Vitality Women’s FA Cup because it’s going to benefit so many clubs across the women’s football pyramid,” she said.

“Women’s football continues to be in a growth phase, and we are always looking to make improvements and investment to drive it forward and break new boundaries. This is certainly one of the most pleasing days during my time with the organisation, because I know it means so much to so many.”

This season many teams lower down the pyramid have highlighted the difficulty of competing in the competition with prize money not