Canada Soccer inks an interim funding agreement with women’s national team players

Canada Soccer has announced they have reached an agreement with the players on the Canadian Women’s National Team for interim funding to provide back pay as they continue to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement. 

‘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,’ the 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.’

The statement continued with a message from Canada Soccer general secretary Earl Cochrane, who said: ‘This is about respect, this is about dignity, and this is about equalizing the competitive environment in a world that is fundamentally unequal.’

The last agreement between the two parties ended in 2021. Cochrane continued: ‘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. 

Canada soccer and players on the women’s national team agreed to an interim funding deal

‘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.’

The statement then read:’ A new overarching collective bargaining agreement with both of our National Teams is still being negotiated. 

‘Therefore, the interim funding agreement with the Women’s National Team Players is subject to change on the basis of details included in the final collective bargaining agreement.

‘With the principle terms of agreement now in place between Canada Soccer and the Women’s National Team Players, final details of the Interim Funding Agreement are being finalized by their respective legal counsel.’

While there was confusion over 2022, TSN reporter Rick Westhead clarified on Twitter that the funding agreement was to cover payment for last year.

‘The sides haven’t reached an agreement over the 2023 WNT budget. Also, the players’ demands for transparency re Canada Soccer’s media/sponsorship have not been addressed,’ Westhead wrote.

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This development comes hours after it was announced that four players who are members of the team – captain Christine Sinclair, Janine Beckie, Sophie Schmidt, and Quinn – all agreed to testify before Canadian Parliament in Ottawa before the country’s Heritage Committee, according to Westhead.

Canadian women’s players have been fighting back against their federation for equal treatment, pay, funding, and resources as they prepare for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Players like forward Janine Beckie have demanded similar resources the men’s team got when they were preparing for the 2022 World Cup – something the men’s team agrees they deserve

Canada played their matches at the SheBelieves Cup, backing out of a strike after suit threats

They went on strike just before the SheBelieves Cup in the United States, but backed down after individual players were threatened with lawsuits by Canada Soccer.

Players for the women’s team have asked not only for equal pay, but for greater equity of matches, staff, and other resources.

Earlier this week, Canada Soccer president Nick Bontis resigned from his position, saying the federation ‘requires change’ in order for the women’s team to receive proper funding.  

International support for the women’s side has been growing and replicated by Canada’s opponents in the cup as well as their global rivals.

Players are looking to get equal access to staff, resources, youth camps, and prep matches

Even former players – such as Olympic medalist and Apple TV presenter Kaylyn Kyle – have shared their experiences in calling for fair treatment for players.

Members of the Canadian men’s national team also have thrown their support behind the women’s team, saying they deserve equal resources. 

No progress on a deal for both national teams has been revealed and the clock is ticking for Canada Soccer.

Players have previously pledged to boycott a set of FIFA sanctioned international fixtures in April if their demands aren’t met.