Players from the Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team “are demanding immediate change” and calling on Canada Soccer to treat the women’s program “equally and fairly” with its funding, the Canadian Soccer Players’ Association said in a Friday statement. The players feel their preparation and the future success of the women’s program has been compromised by Canada Soccer’s “inability to support its national teams.” Longtime Canadian forward Christine Sinclair along with teammate Janine Beckie told TSN that the team will not take part in any team activities until this is resolved, which includes participation in the SheBelieves Cup starting Feb. 16. Here’s what you need to know:
- According to the statement, the Women’s team has been forced to prepare for the upcoming Women’s World Cup with fewer training camp days, fewer players and coaches invited into camps and “immense uncertainty about compensation.”
- Sinclair has called out the association multiple times in the past for its lack of funding and marketing directed toward the women’s team.
- The Canadian women’s soccer team won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
- The Women’s World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, will begin July 20.
The time is now, we are taking job action.
