The U.S. Soccer Federation has reached landmark agreements to pay its men’s and women’s national teams the same. The new contracts are believed to be the first of their kind in the sport.
The announcement marks the culmination of a sustained effort from the women’s national team over a number of years for pay parity.
The collective bargaining agreements will see the men’s and women’s teams paid the same when competing in international matches and competitions. The teams will also pool the prize money payments the U.S. Soccer Federation receives from FIFA during World Cups. Until now, the men’s team has received most of the payments made to US Soccer from FIFA during World Cups.
The new agreements are valid through to December 2028, and come after the women’s national team reached a $26 million settlement with U.S Soccer in February in a gender discrimination case. The team has pursued a high-profile push for equal rights and pay for a number of years, including for improved and equal working conditions.
At the 2019 Women’s World Cup, the crowd chanted “equal pay” during the final, which the U.S team won.
“Thank you to the women who led and continue to lead the fight for equal pay across sports and in everyday day life,” Becky Sauerbrunn, a defender in the women’s national team said.
“This work stretches long in to the past and will continue well in to the future. I’ve said it before we don’t get here without Patsy Mink, the 99ers, the 91ers, Billie Jean or Serena and the foundation they laid. “Thank you,” to all the allies who support a woman’s right to equal pay for equal work.”
“If there was ever a group of women who know they can do hard things, it’s this one. We try to set a new standard for ourselves every time we step on the field, well, we just set a new standard off the field, too. Always more to do, but let’s enjoy this for a minute or two.”