USA Becomes First Country To Equalise Pay For Men And Women’s Soccer Teams. We Need More To Follow Suit!

After there were countless petitions and legal filings by the US women’s soccer players,  US Soccer has now taken the decision to pay their male and female team equally. This makes America and the American national governing body the first in the sport to take this much-needed step. Separate collective bargaining agreements have been issued by the federation through December 2028 with the unions for both teams on Wednesday. This has ended the years of negotiations between female soccer players and the USSF.

The men were playing under the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement that ended in December 2018. The women’s CBA expired at the end of March, but negotiations proceeded after the federation and players agreed to resolve a gender discrimination case filed by certain players in 2019. The settlement was dependent on the federation securing labour agreements that equalised salaries and bonuses for both teams. Margaret Purce, the  U.S. forward said that she is glad for the girls who will grow up seeing this and will be able to know their own value rather than constantly fighting for it. She then recalled that her father always told her that one doesn’t get credit for what they were supposed to do and that paying men and women equally is something we are supposed to be doing. She then added that she will not be giving gold stars for this but she is grateful for their accomplishment and all the people who helped make this happen. 

In a historic accomplishment, U.S. Soccer, @USMNT and @USWNT have come together to agree to new collective bargaining agreements that will run through 2028 and achieve true equal pay – including equalization of World Cup prize money.

— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) May 18, 2022

Perhaps the most contentious issue was World Cup prize money, which is determined by how far a team advances in the tournament. While the American female team has been successful on the international stage, winning back-to-back World Cups, differences in FIFA prize money meant they received far less than the male winners. The unions agreed to pool FIFA’s payments for the men’s World Cup later this year, the Women’s World Cup next year, along with the tournaments in 2026 and 2027. Each player will receive matching game appearance fees, making the USSF the first federation to pool FIFA prize money in this manner, according to the USSF.

This was a monumental effort by a lot of folks pushing @ussoccer to be better.

It took a LONG time, but I'm thrilled the day has finally come. https://t.co/ER0rGejeiF

— Ev (@EvanWarwick55) May 18, 2022

Previously, the federation based bonuses on FIFA payments, which set aside $400 million for the 2018 men’s tournament, including $38 million for champion France, and $30 million for the 2019 women’s tournament, including $4 million for the champion United States. FIFA has increased the total prize money for the 2022 men’s World Cup to $440 million, and FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has proposed that FIFA double the women’s prize money to $60 million for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which has been expanded to 32 teams.

It's about time! @USWNT @USMNT #Soccer #Futbol https://t.co/lhxVAmSyS5

— Imelda March (@hcram1) May 18, 2022

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For the current World Cup cycles, the USSF will pool FIFA funds, taking 10% off the top and then dividing the rest equally among 46 players — 23 on each team’s roster. Before the split in the 2026-27 cycle, the USSF cut is increased to 20%. After missing out on the 2018 World Cup, the men qualified for this year’s World Cup, which will take place in Qatar beginning in November. The women’s team will attempt to qualify for the 2023 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

fuck yeah, took long enough! https://t.co/B3vlb3SPaG

— Kai (@hiyakaiya) May 18, 2022

Players will earn identical game bonuses in smaller tournaments, such as those run by North America’s governing body. In addition, for exhibition games, players will receive appearance and performance fees based on the match result and opponent rank. Players who do not dress will be charged the equivalent of attending a national team training camp. The women agreed to forego guaranteed base salaries, which had been part of their collective bargaining agreement since 2005. Some players had been promised $100,000 annual salaries.

When good news comes you’ve got to celebrate it. This took way too long to finally get but they got it TRUE EQUAL PAY! #EqualPay #investinwomen https://t.co/OXjs6Ysohf

— Mama Riss says FREE TEGAN (@Riss_Willett) May 18, 2022

The women and men will also receive a share of commercial revenue from USSF-controlled matches, with bonuses for sellouts, and each team will receive a share of broadcast, partner, and sponsor revenue. Players will receive a 401(k) plan, and the USSF will match up to 5% of their pay, subject to IRS limits. That money will be deducted from commercial revenue shares.

We move. Forward. https://t.co/JUn76sqmJ5

— Aaron West (@oeste) May 18, 2022

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Women ended a six-year lawsuit over pay equality in February with a $24 million settlement from the USSF, contingent on a new CBA. As part of the agreement, the players will divide $22 million, roughly one-third of the damages sought. The USSF also agreed to establish a $2 million fund to assist players in their post-soccer career paths, as well as charitable efforts aimed at growing the sport for women.

Been a fight, a fight that is worth it! Just shows how important using your voice and not settling for less is! Congratulations @USWNT! #USWNT #equalpayforequalwork https://t.co/kuAYbrmTA5

— Sam (@allforarsenal6) May 18, 2022

According to Indian Express, Mark Levinstein, who is the counsel for the men’s union said “Together with the USWNTPA, the USMNT players achieved what everyone said was impossible — an agreement that provides fair compensation to the USMNT players and equal pay and equal working conditions to the USWNT players.” He added, “The new federation leadership should get tremendous credit for working with the players to achieve these agreements.”

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