In a press conference held on Thursday, members of Canada’s national women’s football team expressed their strong desire for a resolution to an ongoing pay dispute with the Canada Soccer Association (CSA) before their departure for the upcoming Women’s World Cup. The highly anticipated tournament is scheduled to kick off on July 20 and will take place in Australia and New Zealand.
The players have been engaged in a heated battle with the CSA, specifically regarding the compensation that should be provided to them for their participation in this year’s FIFA World Cup. Christine Sinclair, the record holder for international goalscoring, spoke on behalf of the team, stressing the importance of resolving the issue before their departure for a pre-tournament training camp on June 28.
While Sinclair assured reporters that the team has not yet reached a point where they would refuse to board the plane, she emphasized the urgency of settling the dispute, explaining, “We want it done so as players we’re not having to deal with it while we’re trying to prepare.” Sinclair conveyed the team’s demand to the CSA, stating, “As a women’s team, we have informed the CSA that we need a deal in place, at least for the World Cup and this year, before we head down there.”
Expressing optimism about reaching a resolution, Sinclair added, “I think it will happen. Will it be a long-term deal? No. But something will be done before the World Cup starts.”
This recent demand marks the latest development in a protracted and acrimonious dispute that has seen the Canadian women’s team contemplate job action. During the SheBelieves Cup held in the United States in February, the Canadian players opted to sit out a practice session and even threatened to boycott the entire four-team tournament as a means of highlighting their concerns over pay equity.
Although the team ultimately participated in the tournament under protest, they made it clear that they would consider future boycotts if their demands regarding fair compensation were not met. It is worth noting that the Canadian women’s team has been operating without a collective bargaining agreement since 2021, despite having reached a new agreement in principle. However, several unresolved issues have delayed the finalization of the deal.
As the reigning Olympic champions, the Canadian women find themselves grouped with co-hosts Australia, Nigeria, and Ireland for the upcoming Women’s World Cup. They are set to begin their campaign against Nigeria’s Super Falcons on July 21 in Melbourne. Notably, Canada has participated in every edition of the World Cup since its inception in 1991, with their best performance being a fourth-place finish in 2003.
The team’s insistence on a swift resolution to the pay dispute underscores their determination to focus on their World Cup preparations without distractions. With the clock ticking, all eyes are now on the CSA to address the players’ demands and ensure a fair and timely settlement before the tournament commences.
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