US soccer reaches agreement on equal pay for men and women

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 27: The United States celebrate after defeating the Matildas during the first match of the International Friendly Series between the Australian Matildas and the United States of America Women's National Team at Stadium Australia on November 27, 2021 in Sydney, Australia.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

(CNN) --

The United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the United States Women's National Team Players Association (USWNTPA) and the United States National Team Soccer Players Association (USNSTPA) have arrived to a deal "that achieves equal pay and sets the global standard for advancing international football".

Under the agreements, US Soccer will become "the first federation in the world to match FIFA World Cup prize money" given to teams for participating in World Cups.

"This is a truly historic moment. These deals have forever changed the game here in the United States and have the potential to change the game around the world," US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone said in a statement Wednesday.

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"US Soccer and the players of the USWNT and USMNT have re-established their relationship with these new agreements and they usher in an incredibly exciting new phase of mutual growth and collaboration as we continue our mission to become the preeminent sport in America."

The settlement ends the dispute that began in March 2019, when the USWNT filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against US Soccer.

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The deal will see the men's and women's national teams receive an equal rate of pay in all friendlies and tournaments, including the World Cup.

"Justice" and turn the page

Two-time World Cup winners Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, along with US Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone, reflected on the historic deal on CBS Mornings.

"It's a bit surreal, to be honest," Rapinoe said.

"We've been at this for a long time and we come from a long history of women who have fought to put this sport in a better place.

"What I hope and what I am really proud of is that justice reaches the next generation who will never have to go through what we went through: it is equal pay in all areas from here on out."

Megan Rapinoe celebrates after winning the 2019 FIFA Women's Player of the Year trophy during The Best FIFA Football Awards on September 23, 2019 in Milan.

(Photo: MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

"I look forward to continuing to grow this sport and for this to be a moment that we look back on and signal a new US Soccer that we can all be very proud of."

Morgan added that an important aspect of the deal was to "repair" the team's relationship with US Soccer.

"This is a big step, and fixing the relationship with US Soccer is also an important part," Morgan said.

"We feel very comfortable and happy and proud with the moment we have reached now, because it is a great victory for us, for women's sport, for women in general, and it is a moment that we can all celebrate right now."

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