Morocco, Algeria, Cameroon and Malawi will each receive $2.5m (£1.86m) from FIFA to prepare for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The funding forms part of a major increase in the money allocated to the 32 participating national teams. The preparation grant is equivalent to the amount being given to each of the 48 nations competing at the 2026 men’s World Cup.
FIFA’s Bureau of the Council approved the new arrangements, with the money due to be made available to the qualified federations before next December.
The 2027 Women’s World Cup will take place in Brazil from 24 June to 25 July, with the financial announcement coming eight months before the tournament begins.
The four African qualifiers will therefore receive a combined $10m solely for their preparations. That figure does not include the participation and performance bonuses that will be available during the tournament, with full details of those payments expected to be confirmed in December.
FIFA also announced higher minimum guaranteed payments for players, increased compensation for clubs and improved conditions for the participating teams. Those arrangements are intended to match the benefits provided to men’s teams at the 2026 World Cup.
More than the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations prize
The scale of the new preparation payments can be seen by comparing them with the rewards at the most recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
In July, CAF increased its overall prize fund by 67%, taking it from $3.475m to $5.8m. Cameroon, who won the competition, received $2m, while runners-up Malawi were awarded $750,000.
Algeria collected $500,000 after finishing third, while fourth-placed Morocco received slightly less.
That means FIFA’s $2.5m preparation payment alone is $500,000 more than the prize awarded to the African champions.
The next challenge for the four federations will be deciding how to use the additional funding. Alongside preparations for the World Cup, the money could provide an opportunity for longer-term investment in women’s football in Africa.
