Members of Canada’s national women’s football team said on Thursday that they want a pay dispute settled before leaving for the Women’s World Cup which begins on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
The team had been at loggerheads with the Canada Soccer Association (CSA) over what players should collect for this year’s FIFA World Cup, before its commencement on July 20.
Christine Sinclair, who holds the international goalscoring record, said on behalf of the players that the team needed the pay dispute settled before they get on the plane for a pre-tournament camp on June 28.
“We’re not at a point where we’re not getting on a plane, but time’s coming where we want it done so as players we’re not having to deal with it while we’re trying to prepare,” Sinclair, told the Canadian Press.
“But as women’s team we have told the CSA that we need a deal in place for at least the World Cup and this year before we head down there.
“I think it will happen. Will it be a long-term deal? No. But something will be done before the World Cup starts.”
The demand is the latest salvo in a bitter dispute that has seen the women’s team threaten job action.
At the SheBelieves Cup in the United States in February the Canadian women sat out a practice and had threatened to boycott the four-team tournament.
They played under protest but vowed future boycotts if their demands over pay equity were not met.
The team has been without a collective bargaining agreement since 2021 but has agreed to a new deal in principal although several issues remain unresolved.
The Olympic champions are grouped with co-hosts Australia, Nigeria and Ireland at the World Cup.
The seventh ranked Canadians open against Nigeria’s Super Falcon on July 21 in Melbourne.
Canada have qualified for every World Cup except the first in 1991 and have a best finish of fourth in 2003.
Reuters/NAN
