The GIST: Leading up to No. 10 CanWNT’s 6-0 CONCACAF W Gold Cup victory over No. 104 El Salvador, the Canadian Soccer Players’ Association (representing CanWNT) filed a $40 million lawsuit against their employer, Canada Soccer, citing financial mismanagement.
The backstory: CanWNT has been in negotiations for a new labor agreement with Canada Soccer since their previous deal expired in 2021. Threatening to strike at the SheBelieves Cup in February 2023 for equal pay with the men’s team amidst budget cuts, CanWNT played in the tournament under the threat of legal action from Canada Soccer without a resolution to their wage dispute. In March, reports surfaced that CanWNT’s funding was in jeopardy, prompting Parliament to question Canada Soccer’s financial decisions, including a low-value media rights deal with Canadian Soccer Business (CSB).
The latest: The lawsuit filed on Wednesday alleges Canada Soccer is receiving significantly less than the estimated value of their sponsorship deals, only getting the agreed-upon $3.5 million annual fee from CSB. This has had a major impact on Canada Soccer’s revenue and the players’ working conditions.
The bottom line: CanWNT’s union is taking legal action against their employer for what they see as a detrimental business deal that has negatively affected overall revenue and player conditions.
Taking a step back: CanWNT, along with other women’s national teams like Spain’s La Roja and Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz, are speaking out against mistreatment from their governing bodies, hindering their focus on the game.
