Canada (PSF) - Earlier today, the players of Canada’s Women’s National Soccer Team (CWNT) announced a strike of all Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) related activity. This comes despite the team's scheduled appearance in the SheBelieves Tournament. The team arrived to camp in Orlando three days ago and have since stopped training. Janine Beckie and Christine Sinclair confirmed in an interview with The Sports Network (TSN), that the players would not be willing to participate in any team activity, practices, or games until their demands are met. Sinclair told TSN’s Rick Westhead that she, “can not represent this federation,” until the issue is resolved. The issue in question is one that has been raised by many women’s national teams in recent years: equal pay.

Leaders of the CSA have made comments suggesting that they would be implementing equal pay agreements, but have not carried out those promises. In their response statement, the CSA claims that they will not accept any agreements that do not include equal pay and that they’ve always had a good reputation of supporting women’s soccer. The men’s team has expressed their support for the women, as have other players across the world, especially members of the USWNT.

With the 2023 World Cup less than six months away, it is unclear what will happen next. The Canadians are reigning Olympic Gold Medalists and are considered among the front-runners for the World Cup. It is even more unclear what will come of the SheBelieves Cup that is set to kick off on Friday, February 17th. On Saturday evening, following a threat from the CSA to sue the striking players, the strike has ended and the team will play in the SheBelieves Cup.

Their player’s association released another statement explaining the decision. They said that many players have not been paid for their 2022 work, and due to the financial threat of the lawsuit, players could not maintain this strike. This statement can also be read below.

I firmly stand with the Canadian players and can only hope that these issues are reserved with a long term solution.