Seattle Sounders Advocate for Fair Prize Money Distribution
Players from the Seattle Sounders are advocating for a proper distribution of the substantial prize money associated with their qualification for the FIFA Club World Cup. Their stance was notably supported by the Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) on Sunday. FIFA recently revealed that each team in the tournament will earn $9.55 million, a sum that became available to the Sounders after they triumphed in the 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup and earned their spot as the Concacaf representative in this esteemed competition.
Player Solidarity and Calls for Fair Share
In an expressive demonstration, Sounders players arrived at Lumen Field for their match against Minnesota United sporting shirts emblazoned with slogans like “Club World Cash Grab” and “Fair Share Now.” The MLSPA issued a statement declaring solidarity with the Sounders players, emphasizing their collective demand for a more equitable share of the tournament’s prize money. The statement highlighted concerns over FIFA’s growing demands on players’ schedules without adequately considering their health and well-being.
Concerns Over Financial Distribution
The players and the MLSPA pointed out that the recent adjustments to the tournament structure have resulted in significant financial rewards for the leagues involved. While Major League Soccer is set to benefit from this financial influx, the league has not offered a fair distribution of funds to the players who contribute to this success. Over the past months, the players have attempted to engage MLS in discussions regarding bonus allocations, but their efforts have reportedly met with reluctance from the league, which seems to favor outdated contractual agreements over modern benchmarks for player compensation in international play.
The players are the backbone of this league, and they are essential for building its reputation on the world stage. They deserve to be treated with fairness and respect.
As of the time of this report, MLS had not issued a response to these comments.
Upcoming Matches in the Club World Cup
The Sounders are set to begin their participation in the Club World Cup against Brazil’s Botafogo on June 15 at Lumen Field, followed by matches against Atlético Madrid and the UEFA Champions League victors, Paris Saint-Germain, in Group B. Additionally, MLS rivals Inter Miami CF and LAFC will also represent the league in this international tournament. LAFC secured their place by defeating Club América in a decisive playoff, taking the spot of Club Leon in Group D.
