Women's World Cup champs 'right' to pursue equal pay: men's union

The union representing players on the US men's football team Tuesday slammed "false accounting" used by US Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro in claiming the federation had paid women players more than men.

Cordeiro made the claim on Monday in an open letter to federation members, with mediation looming in a federal lawsuit brought by players on the women's team that accuses the federation of "institutionalized gender discrimination" that includes inequitable compensation when compared to players on the men's national team.

"This is more of the same from a federation that is constantly in disputes and litigation and focuses on increasing revenue and profits without any idea how to use that money to grow the sport," the men's players' union statement said.

"The women's national team players deserve equal pay and are right to pursue a legal remedy from the courts or Congress."
US lawmakers have proposed legislation that would block federal funding for the 2026 Men's World Cup -- to be hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada -- until the federation pays its women's national team "fair and equitable wages."