FIFA Women’s World Cup: Canada could boycott tournament over long-running pay dispute

Canada is the Matildas’ biggest threat in the group stage of the World Cup in Australia – but there’s a chance the Olympic champs won’t make the trip. Find out why.

Canada, the Matildas’ biggest threat in the group round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, could pull the pin on their campaign if they can’t find a solution to a long-running pay dispute battle with the Canada Soccer Association.

On the back of winning the Tokyo Olympics, the Canadians, ranked 7th in the world, are real contenders to win the Cup in Australia.

But captain Christine Sinclair told The Canadian Press said the team wanted to have a short-term pay deal signed before they leave for their World Cup 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 TCP.

Canada, who won Gold in Tokyo, might not be getting a plane for the World Cup in Australia. Picture: Loic VENANCE / AFP

Sam Kerr picks apart Canada during a friendly last year. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images)

“We knew this was going to be a fight. We knew it was going to take some time.

“But us as a women’s team have flat-out 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.”

It is just the latest battle in a long-running war between the players and association.

Earlier this year, the Canadian women’s side threatened to go on strike and boycott the SheBelieves Cup over pay issues but the threat of legal action forced them to give up on the plan.

The players released a statement saying they had been forced to cut training camps and pre-Cup games due to budget cuts.

Their existing labour deal expired in 2021 and it is understood they are yet to receive payment for representative duties in 2022.

Canada Soccer says its proposed deal provides equal pay for both the men’s and women’s teams for a match – making the women’s team the second-highest paid FIFA member association team, behind the US.

Players are still waiting on several other demands to be met before they are willing to sign the deal.

Canada is Australia’s last clash of the group stage, on July 31.

Australian goalkeeper Teagan Micah is set for a return from a long stint on the sideline. Picture: Chris Putnam/Future Publishing

MATILDAS ABROAD

A large contingent of the Matildas’ 29-women extended squad are in camp at the Gold Coast but those playing in European or US leagues are still in the midst of their domestic season.

Players who play in the A-League Women’s or English leagues have moved into camp – sharing plenty of happy snaps across their social media pages.

Alex Chidiac and Emily van Egmond are among those yet to join the Matildas – with Chidiac’s Racing Louisville to play North Carolina early Sunday morning and Van Egmond to take on OL Reign.

Goalkeeper Teagan Micah is expected to start for FC Rosengard – her third game since returning from six months on the sideline following a head injury.

Vittsjo GIK stars Clare Polkinghorne, Katrina Gorry and Charli Grant will take on fellow Aussie Kyra Cooney-Cross’ Hammarby this weekend as well.

Last time the sides met Hammarby took the points.

Kyra Cooney-Cross will be in action for Hammarby this weekend. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

QUALIFYING OVERHAUL

FIFPRO, the global players’ union, is calling for an overhaul of Women’s World Cup qualifying processes after a report found major issues with compensation, travel, health and recovery.

The road to qualify for the 2023 World Cup varied depending on which confederation the nation was in. UEFA nations had 12 home and away games to battle through. While other nations gained qualification through stand-alone tournaments.

Australia and New Zealand gained automatic selection being host nations.

A report into the qualification process, which included a survey of 362 players, found the pathways were “uneven and disparate”. It called for a more uniform approach matching that of UEFA to be used by all confederations for future World Cups.

Of the players who participated in the survey more than half said they were not provided with a pre-tournament medical and 70 per cent said gym facilities were not of an elite standard.

Originally published as FIFA Women’s World Cup: Canada could boycott tournament over long-running pay dispute