Megan Rapinoe Says Women's Soccer 'Can't Do Anything More' To Prove They Deserve Equal Pay

Last week, the soccer star called out Fifa President Gianni Infantino for announcing that the prize money for the Women's World Cup will be doubled in 2023 from this year's amount of $30 million to $60 million. Infantino also said the field of teams will increase from 24 to 32.

However, the prize money for the upcoming Men's World Cup in 2022 is set at $440 million, a $40 million increase compared to the 2019 Men's World Cup.

"It certainly is not fair. We should double it now and use that number to double it or quadruple it for the next time. That's what I mean when we talk about, 'Do we feel respected?'" Rapinoe said during a press conference on July 6 ahead of Team USA's championship match against the Netherlands.

Rapinoe also slammed Fifa for scheduling the Women's World Cup final on the same day as both the Men's Gold Cup and the Copa America final.

"If you really care, are you letting the gap grow? Are you scheduling three finals on the same day? No, you're not. Are you letting federations have their teams play two games in the four years between each tournament? No, you're not. That's what I mean about the level of care; you need attention and detail and the best minds that we have in the women's game, helping it grow every single day," she said before calling the scheduling of the three games on the same day "terrible."

Following the conclusion of the Women's World Cup game, Infantino and French president Emmanuel Macron were booed by fans as they stepped onto the pitch to present medals and the World Cup trophy.

When asked about the vocal response at the post-game press conference, Rapinoe said she was "down with the boos," but also prompted Fifa officials to move the conversation about equal pay forward.

"I think everyone is ready for this conversation to move to the next step. I think we're done with the 'are we worth it? Should we have equal pay? Is it, you know, is the market the same' yada, yada. Everyone is done with that - fans are done with that, players are done with that, in a lot of ways I think sponsors and everyone is done with that," she said. "Let's get to the next point of what's next, how do we support women's federation and women's programs around the world. What can Fifa do to do that, what can we do to support the leagues around the world?"

Rapinoe added that every player in the tournament put on "the most incredible show that you could ever ask for."

"We can't do anything more to impress more, to be better ambassadors, to take on more, to play better, to do anything. It's time to move that conversation forward to the next step," she said.