FIFA: 2019 Women's World Cup will have more prize money, upgraded flights

In a bid to close the equality gap, FIFA will offer upgraded flights for some teams competing at the 2019 Women's World Cup and will increase the total prize money, according to an official.

The football governing body has come under pressure in recent years for the disparity in funding between the men's and women's World Cup, with France's team earning $38 million this past summer while the U.S. women's team only received $2 million for winning the tournament in 2015.

Instead of the $15 million that was shared among the 24 teams three years ago in Canada, FIFA official Emily Shaw revealed that the total sum, which is expected to be determined by the FIFA Council next month in Rwanda, will "significantly increase" by the time the tournament kicks off in France next summer, according to Graham Dunbar of the Associated Press.

Shaw, who is the head of women’s football governance at FIFA, said that flights will be upgraded to business class and the governing body will cover the costs for teams traveling from destinations from over four hours away.

FIFA Council member Moya Dodd said that the flight arrangements will come as a "huge relief" for teams traveling from great distances, and called for further action against such discrepancies.

"Leaders in sport should not be content to sit back and let the gender pay gap get wider in absolute terms on their watch,” Dodd said.

So far, only Australia, Brazil, Chile, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand have qualified for the 2019 Women's World Cup.