Culture

“Equal Pay” Chant Rocks Women’s World Cup Stadium After Finals Match

Female players compete for a fraction of what the men do, and fans have had enough.

by Tom Clift  8 July 2019
Women's World Cup 2019

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In the early hours of this morning, the United States claimed victory in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, winning the final 2-0 over the Netherlands in France. And while obviously, we’d have liked to see The Matildas do a little better than they did, it’s hard to argue that the Americans aren’t worthy winners, since this is the fourth time they’ve taken home the trophy.

Still, the win is soured a little by the knowledge that the players were competing for just 7.5% of the prize money that was up for grabs in the Men’s World Cup last year. Not only that but based on their contracts with the US Soccer Federation (USSF), the women are eligible to earn just a quarter of what their male counterparts can make in performance-based player payments, even though the women generate more revenue than the men do. It’s so bad that the players are currently suing the USSF for gender discrimination.

As for the fans, well, it’s pretty clear whose side they’re on. Following the US team’s victory, the whole stadium was on its feet chanting “equal pay”.

Speaking after the game, American superstar Megan Rapinoe backed the push for better wages.

“Everyone is ready for this conversation to move to the next step,” she said. “We’re done with ‘are we worth it. Should we have equal pay?’ Everyone is done with that. Fans are done with that. Players are done with that. In a lot of ways sponsors are done with that.”

“Every player at this World Cup, we put on the most incredible show that you could ever ask for,” she added. “We cannot do anything more.”