Tobin Heath, forward for the USWNT, joined Arsenal after only one season playing in the WSL for Manchester United. (0:47).
Cindy Parlow Cone, president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, sent an open letter Friday asking the unions representing the men's and women's national soccer teams to reach an agreement to share FIFA's World Cup prize money.
She demanded that the men's national teams allow the USSF transfer a portion FIFA's World Cup payments from the federation to be re-allocated to the women's side. Parlow Cone stated that the USSF would offer both unions the exact same contract.
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USSF and players have been arguing about the World Cup prize money. The federation claims that FIFA has the right to distribute the prize money equally.
USWNT players claim that FIFA has no control over a lot of games such as World Cup qualifying.
In March 2019, Alex Morgan and other players sued the USSF. Cindy Parlow Cone, president of Soccer, said Friday that the United States women's and men's national teams should come together to reach a compromise to share the World Cup prize money.
"As a former player I want to make it clear that I and all of U.S. soccer are 100% committed to equal pay to our national team players." Parlow Cone stated in the letter that they remain committed to equal pay for our national soccer team players. "We are focused on demonstrating our commitment through action. We would prefer a single collective bargaining deal with the men's and ladies' teams as a federation. However, since neither team has accepted that approach, we will continue to work with each Players Association separately.
"The huge discrepancy between FIFA World Cup prize money and actual cash is the biggest challenge we face in parallel negotiations with both the men's & women's national teams. Despite some positive investments made by FIFA in women's soccer, the disparity in prize money is still a stark problem.
"FIFA is the only one that controls these funds. U.S. Soccer has a legal obligation to distribute those funds based upon our current collective bargaining agreements with both the men's or women's soccer teams.
"We see a chance to make a difference through this challenge. We need the men's and ladies' national teams to work together to rethink how they have done things in the past. We have invited both the Players Associations and the players to come together with U.S. Soccer to negotiate a solution that would equalize the World Cup prize money between USMNT/USWNT.
The claims in the most recent letter were rejected by both the USWNT Players Association as well as the players who sued the USSF.
"It is false that the Federation offered the Women's National Team 'exactly the same contract' in past negotiations. Becca Roux, executive director of USWNT Players Association, stated in a statement that if the USSF were serious about equal pay they wouldn't engage in publicity stunts that fall short of addressing our problems.
"We are open to negotiating in good faith in order to get a fair offer for our players. We will not allow them to use our fight for equal rights to create a division between the men and women. We will continue to work with all parties to get a fair deal that benefits all players.
The spokesperson for the parties involved in the case stated that more actions are better than words.
Molly Levinson, spokesperson for USWNT players said that the USSF had finally admitted that women players are paid less than men.
"USSF must address this continuing disparity by entering into an equal pay collective bargaining arrangement and resolving ongoing lawsuit. Fans should not be sent letters. It is time to support a lot of words by taking some actions.
The USMNT has been supportive of USWNT's Equal Pay lawsuit and filed an amicus Brief signed by representatives from the men's player's union in July.
After a judge dismissed their lawsuit, they supported the appeal of USWNT.
The USSF, they claimed, "has spent more that three decades treating women as an afterthought, discrimating against them through lower wages and working conditions, forcing the women into struggle for equal pay and fair treatment."
The brief stated that this pattern "sends an uncorrosive public message" to women and girls, that no matter their success or hard work, their employers can and will diminish and undervalue them. This is just as illegal as it is disconcerting.
The deal was reached by the union representing the women's soccer team. It included different benefits such as health care, paid for players in National Women's Soccer League, maternity leave, and pay. The deal for women also includes injury compensation, 401(k), plans and severance.
The women sought more than $64,000,000 in damages and $3 million interest under Title VII of Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Pay Act.
In Los Angeles, U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner tossed out the claim for pay in May 2020. He ruled that the women rejected a pay to play structure similar to the one in men's agreements and accepted higher base salaries and benefits than men.
He let their claim of discriminatory working conditions go to trial. The 9th Circuit was asked by the women to overturn the ruling of the trial court and reinstate their wage claim.
Oral arguments will likely be heard by a three-judge panel in late 2022 or early 2022.
FIFA paid $400 million in prizes to 32 teams participating in the 2018 Men's World Cup. France was the champion.
The 2019 Women's World Cup awarded $30 million to 24 teams, with $4 million going to the United States after the Americans won their second consecutive title.
FIFA has raised the amount to $440 Million for the 2022 men's World Cup. Its president, Gianni Intino, suggested that FIFA double the prize money for women to $60 million for 2023 Women's World Cup. FIFA also increased the number of teams to 32.
Most federations base their payments to World Cup players on FIFA amounts.
The USSF and the women's union are currently negotiating a collective bargaining arrangement to replace the one that expired Dec. 31.
This report used information from The Associated Press.
