Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses face a dramatic financial disparity ahead of Sunday's Euros final.
The Lionesses' potential triumph would yield a collective reward nearly ten times smaller than what England's men's squad stood to gain had they defeated Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
This substantial wage gap underscores the persistent inequality between men's and women's football, even as the Lionesses prepare for their Euros final against Spain on Sunday.
The fixture represents a rematch of the 2023 Women's World Cup final, where Spain claimed a 1-0 victory.
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|England will face Spain in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup in the Euros final on Sunday
The bonus for victory would only total £1.7 million compared to the £14m their male counterparts would have earned.
Breaking down the individual rewards reveals an even starker picture of the financial divide between the teams.
Female players stand to earn £73,000 each if they secure victory, whilst their male counterparts were positioned to receive more than £400,000 per player.
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The men's manager Gareth Southgate was also in line for an additional £4m bonus, further highlighting the vast financial chasm between the two setups.
These figures demonstrate that despite the Lionesses' growing popularity and success, the formal reward structure remains heavily skewed towards men's football, with women receiving a fraction of the compensation for equivalent achievements.
Despite the formal pay structure disadvantage, the women's squad anticipates substantial earnings through alternative revenue streams.
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Commercial opportunities are expected to generate approximately £3m collectively for the players via endorsement agreements and social media activities.
The Lionesses have secured partnerships extending far beyond conventional sports brands, encompassing sectors such as fast food chains, financial institutions, beauty products and automotive companies.
Social media platforms provide another significant income source through sponsored content.
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Hayley Knight, co-founder of PR company BE YELLOW, explained: "They're doing more outside the sport than the men's team ever have. They're more human. They're more accessible."
She highlighted how the squad champions equal sporting opportunities in schools and influences policy decisions.
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"And the one wonderful thing about the Lionesses in particular and this particular team is that there's no scandal, they're very open and honest. There's LGBT representation. It's very diverse," Knight told MailSport.
This authenticity and positive representation has made the Lionesses particularly attractive to brands seeking genuine connections with audiences.