The U.S. Soccer Federation offered equal pay to the men’s and women’s teams after female players spent years publicly criticizing the organization and filing lawsuits alleging gender-based pay discrimination.
USSF announced on Tuesday it “offered identical contract proposals to each Players Association, with the goal of aligning the men’s and women’s senior national teams under a single collective bargaining agreement (CBA) structure.”
Separate unions represent the U.S. Men’s National Team and the Women’s National Team, and they are not obligated to negotiate as a single entity. However, in the statement, the USSF asked that they come together to decide on a single contract.
“U.S. Soccer firmly believes that the best path forward for all involved, and for the future of the sport in the United States, is a single pay structure for both senior national teams,” the statement said.
The USSF stipulated the teams form a consensus about equalizing prize money won in Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
“U.S. Soccer will not agree to any collective bargaining agreement that does not take the important step of equalizing FIFA World Cup prize money,” the statement said.
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Alex Morgan led female players in suing the USSF in 2019 under accusations of Title VII violations, demanding $67 million in damages. Star player Megan Rapinoe is well known on and off the pitch for her progressive activism, including kneeling for the anthem.
No players from either team have yet commented on the offered contracts.
