Why does the women’s team take change when the men’s team received 10.5 million for the League of Nations | Relief

On November 3, 2022, UEFA announced the creation of a new tournament: the Women’s Nations League. “A new and innovative system of competition for national teams that ultimately leads to qualification for the Women’s Euro or FIFA Women’s World Cup,” said European football’s top body.

A year and a half later, Spain, already qualified for the Olympic Games, will meet France in the tournament final. However, as Relevo learned, The winners of the final will receive a small financial compensation for the title: 160,000 euros. This figure contrasts with the men’s tournament, which is celebrating its fourth year. However, in the first of them the winner (Portugal) has already received four and a half million euros.

In their most recent edition, the 2022/23 season, Spain were crowned champions with a gut-wrenching victory over Croatia. For this victory, the RFEF received 10.5 million euros.

The money earned in the qualifying stage is added to the money earned in the final stage. Second-place Croatia took home nine million euros. Italy – third – and the Netherlands – fourth – received eight and seven million euros respectively.

These numbers are very different from those received by Spain (finalist), France (finalist), Germany and the Netherlands (both teams will compete for third place). As Relevo learned, in addition to the €160,000 that the tournament champion will win, The second classified will receive 100,000 euros, while the third and fourth will receive 80,000 and 60,000 euros. respectively.

UEFA, without tournament income

“We have created an open, competitive and end-to-end system where every match will count, which is a true reflection of the European sporting model. I am convinced that this format will help all European national associations and keep the dream of qualifying for a major international tournament alive. Tournament,” UEFA President Aleksandar Čeferin commented on the day of the tournament’s presentation.

Although at the moment the assistance that Čeferin spoke about will not be translated into economic terms. At least to a large extent. The explanation is that the Women’s League of Nations is a competition that is in full swing – or just midway, depending on how you look at it. In this case, audiovisual and sponsorship rights, as well as ticket sales, are administered directly by the federations.

instead of UEFA. That is, in the case of Spain, RFEF.

In the men’s tournament, on the other hand, these rights are centralized and administered by the highest body in European football. Speaking in silver (and there’s no better way to say it), UEFA does not receive any financial benefit It is the federations that sell television, sponsorship rights and tickets, as well as those who receive this money.

Without a ball and without sponsors

But, besides economic ones, there are other differences between both tournaments. While the women’s Nations League does not have its own sponsor, in the men’s case Hisense sponsors the final three stages of the tournament.

There is also no official ball. For example, in another semi-final, between France and Germany, both teams played with a Nike ball (the brand used by the French team). The same thing happened in Spain – the Netherlands, where they played with the Adidas World Cup ball. However, as some of you may have already guessed, for the Men’s Nations League, Adidas usually designs an exclusive ball for the tournament.