The Math Behind US Soccer's Equal Pay Debate
The US Women’s National Team (USWNT) is everywhere—on the champions stage at the 2019 FIFA World Cup, in Donald Trump’s twitter feed, and parading down New York’s Canyon of Heroes. But despite their undeniable success, they still don’t get paid as much as their male counterparts. Three months ago, they filed a class action lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation for pay disparity under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII. The USSF has disputed the case, suggesting the difference in salaries has to do with “legitimate business reasons”, not gender. But the women have fired back, pointing to higher ticket revenue (the Washington Post writes that, from 2016 to 2018, the USWNT generated more in ticket sales), greater success on the international stage, and more grueling game schedules. How do the two teams compare in a true head-to-head? We’ve got all the info you need to present during your next water cooler argument.
Words By Alyssa mercante | Design by Ceros Originals
Fair Play, Fair Pay
The US Women’s National Team (USWNT) is everywhere—on the champions stage at the 2019 FIFA World Cup, in Donald Trump’s twitter feed, and parading down New York’s Canyon of Heroes. But despite their undeniable success, they still don’t get paid as much as their male counterparts. Three months ago, they filed a class action lawsuit against the US Soccer federation for pay disparity under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII. The USSF has disputed the case, suggesting the difference in salaries has to do with “legitimate business reasons”, not gender. But the women have fired back, pointing to higher ticket revenue (the Washington Post writes that, from 2016 to 2018, the USWNT generated more in ticket sales), greater success on the international stage, and more grueling game schedules. How do the two teams compare in a true head-to-head? We’ve got all the info you need to present during your next water cooler argument.
Glory
Fame
Money
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Images: Getty Images
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MEN
Women
There’s no denying the USWNT’s success—they’re the winningest women’s soccer team in the world, with 16 golds across the World Cup, Olympics, and CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football). That’s no small feat, especially since they didn’t start competing internationally until 1991. Their male counterparts team sent two squads to its first World Cup in 1930, winning second and third place out of three teams. They haven’t placed in a World Cup since.
concacaf
Olympics
woMEN
men
Fifa world cup
World Cup Champions (2019, 2015, 1999, 1991) World Cup 2nd Place (2011) World Cup 3rd Place (2007, 2003, 1995) Olympic Gold Medal (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012) Olympic Silver Medal (2000) CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions (1991, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018) CONCACAF Gold Cup 3rd Place (2010) TOTAL: 22 | 16 GOLD - 2 SILVER - 4 BRONZE
World Cup 3rd Place (1930) Olympic Silver Medal (1904) Olympic Bronze Medal (1904) CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions (1991, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017) CONCACAF Gold Cup Runner Up (1989, 1993, 1998, 2009, 2011, 2019) CONCACAF 3rd Place (1996, 2003) TOTAL: 17 | 6 GOLD - 7 SILVER - 3 BRONZE
FAME
The stars of the US Women’s National team have made headlines for their advocacy, their proud sexuality, and their Sports Illustrated covers. Individually, the women have more Instagram followers than most of the men, but as a whole, the USMNT boasts a hair more followers on IG.
ALEX MORGAN
@alexmorgan13
Instagram followers
8.3M
USWNT
@USWNT
1.8M
megan rapinoe
@mrapinoe
1.5M
NIKE JERSEY SALES
Best-selling Nike soccer jersey within one season and best-selling US soccer jersey of all time.
LANDON DONOVAN
@landondonovan10
1.28M
CHRISTIAN PULISIC
@cmpulisic
1.7M
JOZY ALTIDORE
@jozyaltidore
270K
USMNT
@USMNT
1.9M
Landon donovan
The pay scheme for the US Soccer Federation is... confusing. Unlike the men, the women players receive a base salary of $100,000, but are paid far less for international wins, losses, and draws. (They play more games, too). The men have no base salary, but are paid $5k for every loss— the women get nothing if they lose.The result is a strange scenario where the two teams are only ever paid equally if they both lose every game in a twenty game stretch, but the men could (and do) take home more for mediocre gameplay.
2016-2018 GAME REVENUE:
$49.9 M
MAX SALARY FOR 20 FRIENDLY GAME WINS:
$263,320
2018 WORLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE(AWARDED TO FRANCE):
$38M
WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION BONUS: $55,000 Base Salary: $0 Bonus for a win: $6,250-$17,625 Loss to low-ranking team : $5,000
$50.8m
$99,000
2019 WORLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE:
$4m
WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION BONUS: $23,750 Base Salary: $100,000 Bonus for a win: $5,250-$8500 Loss to Low-Ranking Team: $0
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