Members of the women’s and men’s football teams will receive equal pay under a collective bargaining agreement announced by the local football federation after years of pressure from female players at the national level.

“This is truly a historic moment,” said U.S. Soccer President Cindy Barlow Cohn. These agreements have forever changed the rules of the game here in the United States, and they can change the rules of the game around the world. ”

Because of this move, the US Football Association is the first in the world to match prizes awarded for participation in the World Cup between men’s and women’s teams.

USA Women’s Team captain Becky Sauerbrunn said, “The collective bargaining achievement is a testament to the incredible effort made by the US Women’s Team players on and off the field.”

The women’s team won a lawsuit that received $ 24 million in damages, in addition to the National Football Association’s promise of equal salary to the men’s team.

The issue of equality and financial prizes for the World Championships makes up the bulk of a lawsuit filed by the U.S. women’s team in 2019 after winning the world title, accusing the federation of “stubbornly refusing” equally salary on the men’s team. .

The agreement includes the distribution of $ 22 million to the players, with $ 2 million set aside for a special account to help them “achieve their post-career and philanthropic goals related to women’s and women’s football. ”