The U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team and Women’s National Team will finally be paid the same. The U.S. Soccer Federation announced the new collective bargaining agreements, which will run through 2028, yesterday, with pay equality the most essential part of the new deals.
It was not a shock, but it was still a cause for celebration. In February, the top U.S. soccer governing body reached a settlement with the women’s team to resolve the longstanding pay dispute. It came after years of public back and forth from the Women’s National Team, who were never paid the same as the Men’s National Team – even though the Women’s team was much more successful than the Men’s, in every measurable way.
The Women’s Soccer Team fight for equal pay started a movement, and federations from Norway, Australia, and the Netherlands were among the countries that committed to closing the pay gap before the U.S. ever did. At the time of the settlement, the Federation agreed to pay the two teams equally from now on and give the women’s team $24 million in back pay – something the new agreement will finally put into effect.
“We hope that this Agreement and its historic achievements in not only providing for equal pay but also in improving the training and playing environment for national team players will similarly serve as the foundation for continued growth of women’s soccer both in the United States and abroad,” Becky Sauerbrunn, the president of the United States Women’s National Team Players Association said of the news.
The agreements have equal economic terms for all competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, equal fees for friendlies, and bonuses based on team performance.
