‘Equal pay for male and female players, or no World Cup funding when I become president” – Joe Biden gives US Soccer ultimatum after judge throws out players request for equal pay

Joe Biden on Saturday told the US Soccer Federation to resolve the pay dispute with its women’s team or risk losing World Cup funding.
 

On Friday, a federal judge R. Gary Klausner threw out an unequal pay claim by 28 USA players, led by two-time Women’s World Cup winner Alex Morgan, asking the US Soccer Federation to start paying the female team the same salary as the male team.

The lawsuit pointed that the female team has won more trophies and had more commercial appeal and viewership than the male team therefore they deserved equal pay with their male counterparts.

Judge R. Gary Klausner allowed the players’ case against unfair treatment in travel, housing and medical support to go to trial next month but dismissed the damages and claims of the Equal Pay Act sought by the female team.

The players’ spokesperson Molly Levinson said they will appeal the decision, and Biden, has now encouraged the team to to keep fighting, saying if the Federation doesn’t pay the womens team what they deserve, the US Government will not fund the Federation’s World Cup hosting in 2026 if he becomes president .

                  
“To @USWNT: don’t give up this fight. This is not over yet,” Biden wrote on Twitter.

“To @USSoccer: equal pay, now. Or else when I’m president, you can go elsewhere for World Cup funding.”

The men’s World Cup in 2026 is to be staged in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

Joe Biden is a big fan of the U.S. Women’s soccer team and recently said in a live video call with team captain Megan Rapinoe that he could consider her for Vice President