The football federations of Australia and Japan confirmed that Asian Cup organisers did not respond to formal requests regarding prize money equality. Both nations reached the final of the most recent Women's Asian Cup. They seek to align the financial rewards for female athletes with those provided in the men's tournament, per reports from Reuters.
Football Australia and the Japan Football Association issued a joint statement expressing disappointment. The groups noted that the current disparity fails to reflect the growth of the women's game. According to The Guardian, the men's Asian Cup winners received $5m in prize money, whereas the women's champions received no prize money during the previous cycle.
The Asian Football Confederation oversees both tournaments. The governing body has faced increasing pressure from member associations to implement equal pay structures similar to those seen in other international competitions. Neither federation has received a timeline for potential changes to the tournament's financial regulations.
