US Soccer Reaches Historic Milestone With Equal Pay Deal: What Does It Mean?

The U.S. Soccer Federation, the United States Women's National Team Players Association, and the United States National Soccer Team Players have reached a deal on equal pay.

CNN Sports reported that U.S. Soccer will be the first Federation in the world "to equalize FIFA World Cup prize money" granted to the team participating in the World Cups.

U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone said in a statement that the agreement is a "truly historic moment," adding that the agreements have changed the game forever in the U.S., and possibly around the world.

Cone added that U.S. Soccer, the USWNT, and USMNT players have reset their relationship with the new agreements and leading them forward to a new phase of mutual growth and collaboration.

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U.S. Soccer Equal Pay

Aside from the U.S. soccer equal pay, it also includes a provision wherein the team will pool the unequal prize money payments U.S. Soccer received from FIFA.

Cone said in a New York Times report that no other country has ever done a deal like this.

The deal was reached just over six years after a group of stars from the World Cup-winning U.S. women's national team started calling out what they described as "years of wage discrimination by U.S. Soccer against its female players."

There was an earlier federal lawsuit, wherein the female players accused U.S. Soccer of "institutionalized gender discrimination."

In 2020, a judge ruled against the female players' core claims. However, they eventually won their equal pay victory at the negotiating table.

The split in pool money could result in the two teams sharing $20 million or more as soon as next year.

It would be in addition to match payments that are expected to average $450,000 a year, and more in years when World Cup bonus money is added.

One of the women's team's players, Becky Sauerbrunn, said that it is hard to get "so excited about something we should have had all along."

U.S. Soccer

The collective bargaining agreements improve non-economic terms such as player health and safety, data privacy, as well the need to balance responsibilities to both club and country.

The CBAs provide on-field base and performance pay. Players on the USWNT and USMNT will be paid identical roster appearance fees and performance payments based on the outcome of the match and rank of the opponent.

The U.S. Soccer statement also noted that players not on the game roster will earn the equivalent of an appearance fee for their participation in a Senior National Team camp.

In addition, the CBAs provide that USWNT players will no longer receive guaranteed salaries and those who play in the NWSL will no longer have their salaries paid by U.S. Soccer.

There will also be senior national team benefits for the team's players, wherein they would receive childcare, and a 401(k) retirement plan for all USWNT and USMNT players while matching up to five percent of players' compensation.

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Written by: Mary Webber

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