FIFPRO press for equal prize money at 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup

February 10 – Women’s football in Asia is staring at a moment of rare leverage – and the players know it. 
New research released by FIFPRO Asia/Oceania suggests the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup could generate as much as USD $82.4 million in revenue, a figure that would make it the most commercially successful edition of the tournament to date.  

The finding sharpens an uncomfortable contradiction: a competition with genuine commercial upside is still offering prize money and conditions that lag well behind global standards – and even further behind its men’s equivalent.

The report – titled Opportunities of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 – combines player survey data from major international tournaments with independent commercial modelling by global sports intelligence agency Gemba. Its conclusion doesn’t beat around the bush. While the report points to interest, broadcast potential and sponsor appetite all trending upward, professional standards for many female footballers across Asia are still underdeveloped, with limited pay, inconsistent conditions and ‘shallow’ domestic pathways.

That gap has now prompted collective action. Players from seven of the 12 nations due to compete at the 2026 tournament have jointly written to the Asian Football Confederation, uniting behind a four-point vision that calls for equal regulations and conditions aligned with the men’s Asian Cup, equal prize money, guaranteed player payments – with at least 30% of prize money distributed directly to players – and a co-designed legacy programme to accelerate professionalisation across the region.

The Women’s Asian Cup prize pool currently sits at just 12% of the men’s equivalent, the lowest ratio among comparable continental competitions. FIFPRO argues that disparity is no longer defensible, particularly given the tournament’s commercial ceiling.

FIFPRO Asia/Oceania secretary general Shoko Tsuji described the next cycle as a chance to reset expectations rather than repeat old patterns. “The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup represents an enormous opportunity to address historical inequalities and set a new standard for how women footballers are valued and supported across Asia,” Tsuji said. She added that the players’ proposals were “affordable and transformative”, pointing to precedents set by FIFA at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and UEFA ahead of the 2025 Women’s European Championship.

Speaking to FIFPRO, Manchester City and Japan international Yui Hasegawa highlighted the symbolism of the tournament being hosted in Australia – the first country to implement equal national team pay. “The fact that it is being held in Australia presents a huge opportunity,” she said. “I hope the AFC Women’s Asian Cup will offer the best conditions and make progress in the area of prize money, so it is as close as possible to the men’s.”

Australia defender Alanna Kennedy said: “Just like the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the Women’s Asian Cup has the potential to change the reality for every competing player and inspire every young girl across Asia who dreams of becoming a professional footballer.”

India international and FIFPRO Global Player Council member Ashalata Devi said: “We give everything for our country. Equal prize and equal conditions are not just right but also show that women players receive equal respect.”

Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1770723433labto1770723433ofdlr1770723433owedi1770723433sni@g1770723433niwe.1770723433yrrah1770723433