The women's national team is expected to receive the same treatment as the men's national team. But it is not clear if the women's team will get equal pay.
The US women's team will get equal treatment, but equal pay remains to be seenImage: Getty Images/M. Hitij
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US District Judge R. Gary Klausner on Monday approved of a partial deal between the US Women's National Soccer Team (USWNT) and the US Soccer Federation (USSF) over unequal working conditions.
Klausner approved a December settlement during the hearing. The deal calls for charter flights, hotel accommodations, venue selection and staff support for the USWNT equal to that of the US men's national soccer team (USMNT).
Going from the field to the court
The USWNT sued the USSF in March 2019, claiming that they have not been paid equally to the men's team under their current collective bargaining agreement. The women's agreement ends this December, and the men's agreement in question expired December 2018.
The women asked for more than $66 million (€55 million) in damages under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
"We are pleased that the court has approved the equal working conditions that the USWNT players have fought for many years to achieve," said players' spokeswoman Molly Levinson in a statement.
"We are committed as ever to our work to achieve the equal pay that we legally deserve," said Levinson.
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'Committed to equal pay'
The USSF said the women's team had declined to meet unless the federation "agree to make up the difference" in prize money handed out by world soccer governing body FIFA. The USSF said that prize money "is determined, controlled and paid for by [world governing body] FIFA."
"US Soccer is 100% committed to equal pay," said the USSF in a statement. "We have offered the USWNT the identical compensation provided to our men's players for all matches controlled by US Soccer."
FIFA awarded a total of $400 million in prize money for the participants of the 2018 Men's World Cup in Russia, including $38 million to champion France. It awarded $30 million for the 24 nations at the 2019 Women's World Cup in France, including $4 million for the USWNT after winning the tournament. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed FIFA double the women's prize money for the next competition in two year's time.
US women's soccer team celebrates World Cup victory in New York
The victorious US women's soccer team have basked in a ticker tape parade in New York. Co-captain Megan Rapinoe led the festivities, saying the team would continue to fight for social justice issues.
Image: picture-alliance/newscom/J. Angelillo
'Women's rights icons now'
To chants of "equal pay," the US women's soccer team paraded the World Cup trophy through New York's financial district. In a fever pitch of global interest, the team beat The Netherlands 2-0 in the final. "The level of interest and excitement is much higher from four years," said Jessica Lappin, president of the parade's organizers. "That's partly because they're women's rights icons now."
Image: picture-alliance/newscom/J. Angelillo
Taking the lead
In a fiery speech at the parade, celebrated co-captain Megan Rapinoe described her squad as a mixture of all sorts of characters. But Rapinoe, an outspoken gay activist who has called for greater equality for women, urged supporters to engage their communities at a deeper level. "We have to be better, love more and hate less," Rapinoe said. "This is everyone's responsibility."
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/C. Ruttle
Up four the fight
Player of the tournament Megan Rapinoe holds aloft the trophy as teammates celebrate the fourth World Cup triumph by the US women's team. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio presented the ceremonial keys to the city to the players, and stars Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd thanked the country for supporting the team.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/R. Drew
Fighting for equality
Despite their successful performance over the past decades, women do not earn the same on international duty as the US men's team. In March, the women's team sued the US Federation for equal pay. "They play the same game that men soccer players play. They play it better, with better results," said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. "If there's any economic rationale, the men should get paid less."
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/C. Ruttle
'No' to the White House
Even before US President Donald Trump extended an invite to the team, Rapinoe had said she would decline. In an interview on Tuesday, she said she didn't believe anyone else would accept. "I would say that your message is excluding people," she said when asked if she had a message for Trump. "Maybe America is great for a few people right now, but it's not great for enough Americans in this world."
Image: picture-alliance/newscom/J. Angelillo
Down the hatch
Megan Rapinoe pours champagne as the United States Women's Soccer team ride up the Canyon Of Heroes at a Ticker Tape Parade in New York City. Team USA started celebrating the back-to-back World Cup victories on Sunday. In 2015, they beat Japan in the final, whom they had lost to four years earlier.
