It's the latest baffling statistic in the long running football pay-dispute saga. Whichever side wins the 2018 Men's World Cup stands to win 19 times more in prize money than the United States Women's National Team won for the 2015 Women's World Cup.

The total prize pool for Russia has been boosted by 12% after 2014, with the Socceroos vying for an $8 million (US) payday should they beat Honduras over the upcoming two leg qualifiers.

The news comes a month after the Danish Women's National Team - current European Champions - were forced to cancel a friendly against the Netherlands, after failing to come to an agreement over a long standing pay dispute with their national association. 

The W-League and PFA has recently emerged after similar negotiations with FFA, securing a $10,000 retainer for every W-League player, while the league's best - when combined with Matildas and overseas commitments - could earn up to $130,000 this season. 

Yet this still pales in comparison to their male counterparts, and from the very top, the attitude is bleak.

FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke, argued last December that the Women's World Cup should have to wait until it was in it's 20th year before it could expect the same money.

“We have still another [13] World Cups before potentially women should receive the same amount as men. The men waited until 2014 to receive as much money as they received.” 

There is a stark difference in tournament revenue, with claims that the 2014 Men's World Cup brought in $4.5 billion to the FIFA coffers, but the staggering difference between the two tournaments serves as a telling reminder of how far the inadequacy stretches within FIFA tournaments.