This FIFA World Cup, to be fair, has been unbelievable. And the final is yet to be played.
(Reuters) – FIFA chief Gianni Infantino said on Friday that the FIFA Women's World Cup has generated more than $570 million in revenue and enabled football's global governing body to break even, despite raising the prize purse tenfold compared to the 2015 edition.
The Swiss said the ninth edition of the FIFA showpiece event has been the "best and greatest and biggest" and vindicated the decision to raise the prize money and expand the field from 24 to 32 teams.
"Some voices were raised, would it cost too much? We don't make enough revenues. We will have to subsidize. And our opinion was, well if we have to subsidize, we will subsidize, because we have to do that," Infantino told the FIFA Women's Football Convention.
"But actually, this World Cup generated over $570 million in revenues, and so we broke even. We didn't lose any money and we generated the second highest income of any sport, besides of course the men's World Cup, at a global stage," he added. "I say to all the women, you have the power to change. Pick the right battles. Pick the right fights."
He further implored women, "Just keep pushing, keep the momentum, keep dreaming, and let's really go for full equality.”
Infantino also blasted the critics of the choice of Australia and New Zealand as hosts, as well as the tournament's expansion.
"I remember when we decided to do that, of course the usual critics, which are less and less, were saying it's not going to work and the level is too different," he said. “I'm sorry but FIFA was right. As it happens quite often in the last years, FIFA was right once more."
England will play Spain in the World Cup final in Sydney on Sunday to close the tournament—and if the previous matches are any indication, this last battle has the makings of an all-time classic.
(MDB)