Players' union tells FIFA: We want World Cup equal pay

The global professional football players' union FIFPRO has written to FIFA calling for parity in conditions, facilities and prize money between the men's and women's World Cups.

The letter, seen by ESPN, was sent by FIFPRO to FIFA president Gianni Infantino in October, a month before the start ahead of the men's 2022 World Cup. News of the letter was first reported by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, just four months ahead of the 2023 Women's World Cup.

— Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

The players argue that the much smaller prize money offered for the women's tournament «impacts how countries will disproportionately prioritise their efforts to support the men's national team over the women's national team» and «perpetuates the attitude of women's football being a 'cost' rather than a contributor» to the sport. «This is because the same effort and achievement do not yield the same reward,» the letter says.

FIFPRO, who addressed he called for three proposals. First, it asks for an equal framework of «regulations and conditions» for both the men's and women's World Cups, including parity on prize money. The second proposal calls for at least 30% of the prize money to go to the players competing in the tournament — highlighting how some federations do not have an agreement in place with their players over monetary compensation or distribution of prize money. Thirdly, it asks for a collective agreement by means of protecting these commitments.

Regarding the first point, FIFPRO is looking for equality between the men's and women's tournaments in terms of travel conditions, training venues and facilities. It also highlights how from the men's 2018 World Cup and 2019 Women's World Cup, female players