June 18 – The United States women’s national soccer team (USWNT), in dispute with their national federation (USSF) over equal pay and conditions, generated more revenue than the men’s side in the three years after their 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup win according to analysis of US Soccer’s audited accounts for the past three years.
The financial reports, seen by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) show the women’s team generated $50.8 million from 2016-18 against $49.9 million by the men’s team.
Before 2016 the US men’s team was the bigger revenue earner.
The USSF sells its men’s and women’s TV, marketing and sponsorship rights as a joint package. The governing body earned nearly US$49 million from marketing and sponsorship in 2018. How those values apportion to men and women’s teams is not broken out in the WSJ analysis.
Visa and car manufacturer Volkswagen have recently signed sponsorship deals with the USSF emphasising their money is valued equally with women’s side of the game. Visa said it expected to see their money invested equally in both sides of the game.
The US women’s team are currently dominating the world at France 2019. Pre-tournament all 28 squad members filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the USSF requesting back pay, damages and other relief. The lawsuit claims that women’s players make about $8,200 less per game than their male counterparts.
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