The United States women's national soccer soccer team is the leading force in international women’s soccer. They have won four Women's World Cup titles and four Olympic gold medals. There are also nine CONCACAF Gold Cups. Discrimination and poor wages are major problems for the women's side. We will examine some of these problems. The USWNT has many problems, including poor pay and discrimination in NWSL.
U.S. women's soccer team has won four gold medals
Four gold medals have been won by the U.S. women’s soccer team, including four World Cups as well as one Olympic tournament. The team's biggest triumph came on May 18, when they won the Equal Pay Games, beating France, Canada and Japan in the semifinals. They are now looking forward for the World Cup next season, where they will try to win another gold medal.
Since 1996, six times the U.S. Women's Soccer team has placed on the podium, including at the 2008 and 2016 Olympics. They have won four medals: one gold, one silver, one bronze. In Atlanta, the USWNT was defeated by China 2-1 for its first gold medal. In Sydney, Australia they won silver but lost in semifinals to Norway. They won three games straight in London.
It is the most popular international women's soccer player
The United States women's national soccer team has dominated women's soccer for half a century, winning four World Cups, many Gold Cups, and numerous Olympic gold medals. Title IX, which bans discrimination based upon gender in federally-funded education institutions, fueled its dominance. The 1999 World Cup triumph was a significant moment for women's sports in the United States. Also, it was the first Olympic gold medal won by a woman's national soccer team.
The Women's World Cup, which brings together teams from around the world, has become a significant part of the global soccer industry. The tournament was first held in Germany in 1991. The U.S. soccer program was the original and most lucrative in international women’s football. While the United States has made progress in women's football, other countries remain behind.
It earns less than NWSL men
The US women’s soccer team earns less money than its male counterparts from the NWSL. The league has a hybrid payment system. 17 players are on a full time contract with USSF. The hybrid pay system means that players will receive their salary regardless of whether they are disabled or taking parental leave. The league's non-contract members receive only a portion.
The reason for the gender pay gap is not unfair but a function of the structure of the sport and the players' pay. U.S. Soccer awarded $34.1million in bonuses and salaries to women players between 2010-2018. While men earned $26.4million, the total earnings of U.S. Soccer female players was $34.1million. The women's league operates under different collective bargaining agreements. This means that the women's team is paid less than the men.
It faces discrimination in World Cup payments
The US women’s soccer team faces allegations of gender discrimination regarding World Cup payments. The US District Court in California will file suit. The suit alleges that the USSF was complicit in gender discrimination being institutionalized and is promoting unequal pay for men as well as women. USSF is opposing the lawsuit in name of equal compensation, but has yet comment publicly about the details.
Federal judge denied Equal Pay Act claims against the US women's football team. USSF asserts that the Equal Pay Act claims against the women's national soccer team were denied because of the disparity. Over 111 games, the team earned $24.5million while men earned $18.5million. The team argues that playing important games on artificial turf is gender discrimination, but the judge disagrees.