The U.S. Soccer Federation announced Wednesday that it has agreed to pay U.S. women’s national team players the same way it pays U.S. national team players.
According to NPR, the collective bargaining agreement will run through 2028 and will include the “offset” of World Cup prize money.
In a historic achievement, USA Football, @USMNT also @USWNT Get together to agree on new collective bargaining agreements that will run through 2028 and ensure truly equal pay, including equality in World Cup prize money.
– American Football (@ussoccer) 18 May 2022
The contract comes after years of USWNT efforts to force the federation to provide equal pay between the two teams. The deal will also allow the female actors to pay off their $22 million debt.
“We hope this Agreement, and its historic achievements not only in providing equal pay but also in improving the training and playing environment for national team players, will lay the foundation for the continued growth of women’s soccer, both in the United States and abroad. USWNT player Becky Sauerbrunn said.
The federation said the pay scales between the two teams had “similar economic conditions”, which included equal pay of annual wages and incentives and participation in tournaments, including two world championships.
Calculated through 2028, the deals include:
Equalization of World Cup prize money
CBA Newsletter »https://t.co/At6VSKzjiN pic.twitter.com/ugr7zxEu6k
– American Football (@ussoccer) 18 May 2022
Teams will also have the same revenue distribution agreement from ticket sales.
“This is truly a historic moment,” said Cindy Parlow Cone, President of USA Football, following the announcement. “These agreements changed the rules of the game forever in the United States and could change the game anywhere in the world.”
Although the deal is called “equal pay,” it’s actually largely in favor of women. Fewer fans watch women’s football on TV and go to stadiums.
For example, the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup reached an all-time high of 1.12 billion viewers worldwide. That may seem like a lot until you realize that last year’s Men’s World Cup had 3,572 billion viewers worldwide and generated $6 billion in revenue.
Income inequality is not new either. For example, the 2010 Men’s World Cup generated $4 billion in revenue. But that year’s women’s world championship only raised $73 million.
Men’s soccer attracts more fans and brings in more money from ticket sales and sponsorships. But if women are now paid the same salary as male players, it means that female players receive more rewards than male players for bringing in less income to the league.
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Source: Breitbart
