The US Men's soccer team was defeated in the round of 16 by Belgium in the Men's World Cup, marking the end of their tournament run.
Despite their impressive performance, the team will be required to hand over half of their $16 million prize money to the US Women's National Team under the equal pay collective bargaining agreement.
The agreement, which was implemented in 2022, pools prize money from the men's and women's tournaments, effectively subsidizing the women's team with revenue generated by the men's team.
The US Women's National Team has not competed in a World Cup match since the 2019 tournament and will not suit up again until 2027, yet they will still receive a share of the men's prize money.
The agreement was touted as a landmark victory for equity, but critics argue that it erases differences in market value, risk, and results between the men's and women's teams.
Under the agreement, each player on the US Men's and Women's National Teams will receive approximately $246,000 from the $16 million prize money, despite the men's team generating the revenue through their performances.
The deal will remain in effect even after the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, with the men's team continuing to subsidize the women's team through prize money.
The US Men's National Team has been praised for their performances throughout the tournament, but the equal pay agreement has been criticized for treating men's soccer as a piggy bank for fairness rather than a business rewarding what fans and sponsors value.
The agreement has been described as legalized plunder, with the men's team being forced to hand over a significant portion of their earnings to the women's team without generating the revenue themselves.
