The wave of pay equity in soccer has already begun and is coming with force

There are sports figures who inspire for what they do on the field, court or pool, and above all, for what they do “behind the scenes.” San Diego Wave FC it’s news in the women’s soccer international professional. Just last September 17, the team made its home debut at Snapdragon Stadium in the city of San Diego, California, United States, and broke the attendance record in the NSWL (National Women’s Soccer League) with 32,000 people, when they faced to Angel City FC. The figure itself is news, but it is especially relevant precisely because 10 days earlier, on September 6, the United States men’s and women’s soccer teams signed equal pay agreements. The signing took place in the context of the friendly match in which the US team beat Nigeria 2-1. Alex Morgan started.

It is precisely in the San Diego Wave FC where Alex Morgan play and score goals, one after another. The forward is one of the captains of the North American national team and a strong promoter of the campaign and demand for equal pay in soccer in the neighboring country. Morgan, after the match against Nigeria, as part of the signing of the agreement, wore a United States shirt with the legend “Equal Pay” and the number 22. Morgan is an Olympic medalist and world champion with the United States.

It took six years to fix. It was a winding road. An eternity for women. According to the site US Soccer, the agreement runs until 2028 and ensures that the economic compensation will be identical (male and female) for participation in competitions including the FIFA World Cup and distribution of commercial profits, in addition “improve the non-financial terms including the health and safety of the players, data privacy and the need to balance responsibilities for club and nation”. On the other hand, the agreement includes the late payment of the prize of 24 million dollars (USD) for winning the FIFA World Cup in France 2019.

San Diego Wave FC defeated 1-0 Angel City FC. It is no coincidence that the attendance record was broken when Sanpdragon Stadium opened between San Diego Wave FC and Angel City FC, a team from the city of Los Angeles, whose most prominent members include actress Natalie Portman, singer Christina Aguilera, former soccer players Mia Hamm and Aby Wambach, and actress Eva Longoria. They are international figures in different spheres, and they also fight with ideals that give women and men equality in wages, politics, social, and culture.

At the post-game press conference at Snapdragon Stadium, Alex Morgan, mentioned that the record is a sign that women’s soccer in the United States has grown a lot, although its development, both at the soccer level and in the stadiums, marketing and other areas, took about 10 years. Aware of Morgan’s effort to achieve salary parity and her figure as an example to follow especially among children, I asked her what is the most important message she has for young people, girls and boys; she replied: “There is no secret to success, it is all hard work, being confident and having a good support system, be it family, friends or a coach; a good support system to help you deal with the ups and downs of the sport, be strong during the toughest moments.”

The issue is especially relevant given the resounding failures of the Mexican women’s teams in international soccer tournaments, contrasted with the success that the Liga MX Femenil is having, at the hands of players such as Charlyn Corral, Alice Cervantes o katty martinez among other. Alex Morgan is a figure to follow on the soccer field but also on a cultural level. She, Megan Rapinoe and many more, achieved salary parity by showing that they sell, that they play well –world champions and almost unbeatable–, and, above all, that they deserve exactly the same treatment as their male counterpart. This is going to permeate international soccer sooner or later and if Mexico wants to aspire to have more women practicing the sport, in better conditions, then the owners will have to improve resources both at the club level and in national teams.

According to a note from ESPN May 2022, just America, tigers y Monterrey they have some players with salaries above 100,000 pesos… The general base salary of the league is 4,500 pesos. It will be necessary to remember that just in September 2021, Cofece announced that 17 Liga MX Femenil clubs were fined for imposing a salary cap (2,000 pesos for players over 23 years of age) and segmenting and restricting the transfer market.

The wave of pay equity has already begun and is coming with force.

How to attend a game:

• To attend a San Diego Wave FC game visit sandiegowavefc.com/.
• Snapdragon Stadium: snapdragonstadium.com/.
• Where to stay in San Diego: Hotel Del Coronado is a luxury, historic resort, founded in 1888 in Coronado, San Diego, and today it is renovated and divided into five neighborhoods, it is on the beach so the views are spectacular, pools, spa, surf academy, among other things. hoteldel.com/.

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