US Soccer reaches historic equal pay agreement with men’s and women’s teams

An important day for football in the USA

The US Soccer Federation has announced landmark deals to pay its women’s and men’s national teams equally, which includes an equal split of World Cup prize money.

It comes after US Soccer and the respective unions for the two sides reached the deal during negotiations for their new collective bargaining agreements, which have now been ratified.

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 WNT players on and off the field,” said USWNT player and USWNT players’ association president Becky Sauerbrunn.

“The gains we have been able to achieve are both because of the strong foundation laid by the generations of WNT players that came before the current team and through our union’s recent collaboration with our counterparts at the [men’s players union] and leadership at US Soccer.

“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.”

‘Something special’

Midge Purce, a member of USWNT’s bargaining committee, added: “It’s very rewarding. For me, I feel very humbled to join this fight that has been going on years before I even touched a ball. Before I was born, actually.