Friday 26 October 2018 15:25, UK
FIFA are doubling the prize money on offer at the Women's World Cup in time for next year's tournament in France.
President Gianni Infantino made the announcement towards the end of a FIFA Council meeting in the Rwandan capital Kigali.
The prize money increase amounted to "more than three times the amount paid in 2015" when the competition was held in Canada, Infantino said.
The added funds also include $11.5m (£9m) to help teams organise friendly matches before the World Cup, as well as $8.5m (£6.6m) to reward clubs releasing players for the tournament.
Nevertheless, players union FIFPro released a statement to say that much more needed to be done towards achieving gender equality.
"Despite these changes football remains even further from the goal of equality for all World Cup players regardless of gender," it said.
"In reality, the changes actually signify an increase in the gap between men's and women's prize money. This regressive trend appears to contravene FIFA's statutory commitment to gender equality."
In comparison, the prize money for this year's 32-team men's World Cup in Russia was $400m (£312m), a $48m (£37.5m) increase from 2014. That included $38m (£29.7m) going to the winners, France.
Next year's World Cup will be staged in France from June 7 to July 7. The 2015 tournament, which saw England make history by finishing third, was the first women's World Cup to involve 24 teams.
