Men and women will now play under 'identical economic terms'
After years of campaigning and negotiating, female U.S. soccer players have finally reached a landmark agreement with the United States Soccer Federation to receive the same pay as the men’s team.
The Federation announced on Wednesday new collective bargaining agreements with the men’s and women’s players associations that will achieve equal pay “through identical economic terms”, according to a Bloomberg report. The two deals run through 2028.
News of the equal pay structure comes after U.S. Soccer reached a $24 million agreement earlier this year with the women’s national team to settle allegations that female players were paid less than their male counterparts. The women’s team has been more successful than the men’s over the last decade, winning the last two World Cups. The men’s team failed to qualify for the 2018 competition.
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
“The accomplishments in this CBA are a testament to the incredible efforts of [women’s national team] players on and off the field,” Becky Sauerbrunn, a national team player and president of the women’s players association said.
The Bloomberg report added that, in addition to pay, the agreement will give the men’s and women’s team equal quality of venues, hotel accommodations and staffing, among other things.
“I hope all the kids that come behind me are way richer than I am.” —Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) https://t.co/Z4ahM4wtzt pic.twitter.com/N3sdL2OPsv
— GQ Sports (@GQSports) May 18, 2022
