Canada’s World Cup Men’s Team Refuse To Play

Canada’s World Cup warmup match against Panama was canceled Sunday when the men’s team refused to play because of a labor dispute with the nation’s governing body that includes a demand the women’s national team get equal match fees.

Canada’s World Cup warmup match against Panama was canceled Sunday when the men’s team refused to play because of a labor dispute with the nation’s governing body that includes a demand the women’s national team get equal match fees.

Players, preparing for the nation’s first men’s World Cup appearance since 1986, refused to train Friday and Saturday.

Players said they want 40% of World Cup prize money, a friends and family travel package and and equitable structure with the women’s national team that shares the same player match fees, percentage of prize money earned at the respective FIFA World Cups and the development of a women’s domestic league.

Unions for the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams announced agreements on May 18 calling for equal pay, including a pooling of World Cup prize money. The Canadian men said they want an equal percentage of prize money and equal match fees.

Contract discussions have been in the works since March but the Canadian men’s national team is unhappy with the lack of response and the constant delays.  For those reasons, they decided not to play their match against Panama.

Canada’s women’s team is ranked sixth in the world and won the gold medal at last year’s Olympics.

Panama was a late replacement as Sunday’s opponent, which originally was Iran. Canada’s governing body dropped Iran following criticism by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.