Women's FA Cup to double the total prize money

By Paul Lagan

The FA has decided to double the total prize money for the Women's FA Cup competition.

An additional investment of £3million has been approved by The FA Board, bringing the total prize fund for the competition to £6million. The new agreement means there will be a significant increase in prize money for clubs competing from the Third Round Proper onwards for the 2023/24 season.

Baroness Sue Campbell, The FA’s director of women’s football, said: “Doubling the prize money showcases The FA’s clear commitment to the future of the women’s FA Cup and will help us maintain its stature as the most prestigious domestic women’s cup competition in the world. That’s why we’re delighted to be making a second successive increase to the prize fund, ensuring that

as clubs progress through the competition they receive financial rewards that will empower them to invest in their own futures.

"Ultimately, we want the women’s competition to receive the same prize money as the men’s, and this new increase is a positive step in the direction of achieving that long-term ambition.”

Clubs competing in the Third Round Proper will now access a prize pot of £44,000 per match, a substantial uplift on the £12,500 pot allocated for the same round in the 2022/23 competition. There will be an increase in the prize pot for each match between the Third Round Proper and the Final, with the Final prize pot also significantly increasing from £150,000 to £538,000 to ensure success in the competition is rewarded.

This season’s funding increase aligns with when Barclays Women’s Championship clubs enter the competition. 28 teams from outside of the professional game also compete in the Third Round Proper, meaning clubs from Tier 3 and below of the women’s football pyramid will collectively access a minimum additional prize pot of £404,000 compared to if they had made the same stage last season.

The 2023/24 season of the Women’s FA Cup is at the First Round Proper stage. Tickets for the Final, which will take place in May 2024, are now on sale at thefa.com/tickets.