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.
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"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.
"I’m really proud of the work that’s been done. A lot of gifted people came together to put together something really special."
The equal pay agreements will run through until 2028, which ensures two World Cup cycles. It includes the tournament that USA is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico for the men's tournament in 2026.
"This is a truly historic moment," US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone said.
"These agreements have changed the game forever here in the United States and have the potential to change the game around the world.
"U.S. Soccer and the USWNT and USMNT players have reset their relationship with these new agreements and are leading us forward to an incredibly exciting new phase of mutual growth and collaboration as we continue our mission to become the preeminent sport in the United States."
Further success for US women's team
In December 2020, the US women's team reached an agreement with US Soccer over equal work conditions with the men's team. The players were granted the same conditions as their male counterparts, including in areas such as travel, hotel accommodation, the right to play on grass rather than artificial turf and staffing.
In February, the women's side also
agreed a $24m settlement that ended a six-year legal battle over equal pay.
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