Women’s World Cup: After controversy, Saudi Arabia will end up not being a sponsor

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand (July 20-August 20) will not be sponsored by the Saudi Arabian Tourism Board, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday in Kigali after the organization’s 73rd Congress.

“There were negotiations with Visit Saudi Arabiabut in the end it did not lead to a contract,” Infantino said at a press conference after his re-election as head of FIFA.

“It was a storm in a teacup,” he continued, referring to the reaction, especially in Australia and New Zealand, to the announcement in February that the tournament could have a Saudi Arabian partner due to Saudi Arabia’s poor reputation for women’s rights.

New Zealand and Australia then demanded “urgent” responses from FIFA, the New Zealand federation even saying it was “shocked and disappointed” that FIFA had not consulted with it.

“FIFA is an organization made up of 211 national federations and there is nothing wrong with partnering with Saudi Arabia, China, the US, Brazil or India,” M. Infantino said on Thursday.

The football federations of Australia and New Zealand welcomed FIFA’s announcement. “We welcome FIFA’s clarification regarding the visit to Saudi Arabia,” Football Australia boss James Johnson said in a statement. “Equality, diversity and inclusiveness are very important commitments for Football Australia,” he added.

Infantino pays broadcasters

“We believe it is important that all commercial partnerships are consistent with the vision and values ​​of the tournaments in which they participate,” New Zealand Football said in a statement.

The FIFA President also indicated that bonuses allocated to players and compensation paid to clubs for the 2023 World Cup have tripled compared to the 2019 edition ($50 million) to reach $152 million.

However, he sharply criticized the broadcaster, which was not very enthusiastic about the idea of ​​broadcasting the Women’s World Cup: “If they offer us 100 million (of dollars) for the men’s World Cup, they offer us a million (of dollars) or less for the women’s tournament, and at the same time, these broadcasters are criticizing FIFA for equality between men and women on bonuses,” he stressed.

“You can offer 20% less or even 50% less but not 100% less, women deserve more, much more and we are here to fight with them,” he said.