Different Pay Structures for the Men and the Women

Both the men’s and the women’s teams are required to play 20 exhibition games (also called friendlies) every year. But the women contend that the pay for those games is higher for the men, even after factoring in the women’s salaries of $72,000 per player (the men are not paid a salary). The payment and bonus structure for the men’s and women’s teams have many differences.

Pay per player for each exhibition game Pay per game Bonus per win Women Men $3,600 1,350 5,000 8,166 Pay per player for each exhibition game Pay per game Bonus per win Women Men $3,600 1,350 5,000 8,166 Pay per player for each exhibition game Pay per game Bonus per win Women Men $3,600 1,350 5,000 8,166

Yearly pay for 20 games Lose all Win all Women Men $72,000 $100,000 $99,000 $263,320 Yearly pay for 20 games Lose all friendlies Win all friendlies Women Men $72,000 $100,000 $99,000 $263,320 The New York Times | Source: Federal complaint submitted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Note: The men’s bonus is an average based on a possible bonus range of $6,250 to $17,625 per win.

Smaller World Cup Bonuses

According to the complaint, the pay structure for advancement through the rounds of the World Cup is so skewed that, in 2015, the women’s team earned $2 million for winning the World Cup while the men made $9 million without advancing beyond the round of 16 in 2014. In addition, the complaint says that bonuses for placing first, second or third are much higher for men.

World cup bonuses per player Third place Second place First place Women Men $20,000 $52,083 $32,500 $260,417 $75,000 $390,625 World cup bonuses per player Third place Second place First place Women Men $20,000 $52,083 $32,500 $260,417 $75,000 $390,625 World cup bonuses per player THIRD PLACE SECOND PLACE FIRST PLACE Women Men $20,000 $52,083 $32,500 $260,417 $75,000 $390,625 The New York Times | Source: Federal complaint submitted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Lower Per Diem and Sponsor Appearances

U.S. Soccer pays women a smaller daily allowance (also known as per diem) than men when they are in camp at domestic and international venues. It also pays women $3,000 per sponsor appearance, compared with $3,750 for men.