Canada Soccer reach funding agreement with women's national team
By Tom Gott
Canada Soccer have confirmed an interim funding agreement has been reached with the women's national team to end their dispute over pay.
The Canadian players have been open in their frustrations towards Canada Soccer and the financial disparities compared to the men's national team, having been threatened by legal action by the governing body after considering going on strike.
With the Women's World Cup scheduled for July, the dispute had created mass uncertainty for one of the pre-tournament favourites, but a temporary agreement has now been reached to allow time for a new pay agreement to be reached with both the men's and women's sides.
"Canada Soccer has announced that a deal in principle has been reached with the Women’s National Team Players on an interim funding agreement, for 2022," a statement read.
"The terms of the interim agreement mirror a similar deal with the Men’s National Team Players that includes per-game incentives and results-based compensation."
Canada Soccer general secretary Earl Cochrane added: “This is about respect, this is about dignity, and this is about equalising the competitive environment in a world that is fundamentally unequal.
“We have been consistent and public about the need to have fairness and equal pay be pillars of any new agreements with our players, and we are delivering on that today. While this is an important step forward, and it signals progress, there is still more work to do to ensure both of our national programs are given the necessary resources and supports to prepare and compete.”
A new collective bargaining agreement is in the process of being finalised with both the men's and women's sides, meaning this latest interim agreement is still subject to change depending on those negotiations.