Sunderland Women win earns club five-figure sum as FA Cup opponents are revealed

Sunderland Women will play Southampton in the FA Cup fourth round - and are set to benefit further from the Football Association's increased prizemoney after their latest victory.

Mel Reay's side defeated Durham Cestria Ladies in the third round of the competition last time out, pocketing £35,000 for the club in the process.

The authorities recently announced what they have dubbed a "new landmark investment" into the women's FA Cup which will see the total prize fund for the competition double in size. An additional investment of £3million has been approved by the FA's board, which brings the total prize fund for the competition to £6million.

The new agreement means there will be a significant increase in prize money for clubs competing from the third round proper onwards for the 2023-24 season.

Should Sunderland advance to the fourth round and win again against Southampton, they will collect £54,000. If they are on the losing side, they will scoop £13,000.

If Sunderland advance to the fifth round, the club could be in line to pocket £80,000 for a victory and £20,000 for a loss.

In the quarter-finals, the prizemoney has risen to £90,000 for a win and £22,500 for a loss. In the semi-finals, Sunderland would potentially earn £160,000 for winning and £40,000.

Teams that reach the FA Cup final could pocket £430,000 if they were to win the competition while losing sides would net £108,000.

Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA's director of women’s football, said: “Doubling the prize money showcases the FA’s clear commitment to the future of the Women’s FA Cup and will help us maintain its stature as the most prestigious domestic women’s cup competition in the world.

"That’s why we’re delighted to be making a second successive increase to the prize fund, ensuring that as clubs progress through the competition they receive financial rewards that will empower them to invest in their own futures.

"Ultimately, we want the women’s competition to receive the same prize money as the men’s, and this new increase is a positive step in the direction of achieving that long-term ambition.”