Canada’s national soccer team is only taking part in the SheBelieves Cup “under protest” in preparation for the World Cup in the summer (July 20 to August 20), but a boycott is off the table.
The Olympic champions around captain Christine Sinclair are fighting for equal pay and against the alleged lack of support from the national football association Canada Soccer.
“We’re exhausted and we’re on edge. This is probably the most important fight we have as international players and we’re determined to win it,” Sinclair said ahead of the invitation tournament, which begins on Thursday.
A message from the team is expected in the opening game against the USA. “I’m sure there will be something,” said Sinclair, who recently complained about unequal treatment compared to the men’s team. According to this, men would have received almost 7.7 million euros in support in 2021, women around 3.5 million. In the previous year, according to the association, the expenses were almost identical.
The Canadian association has also recently shortened the days in the training camp and timed the activities on site too closely, which would have a negative impact on the team’s preparations for the World Cup, it said in a recent statement: “We are tired of constantly fighting for fair and… having to fight for equal treatment.” The men’s national team around Bayern star Alphonso Davies supports the women “with all my heart”.
The women’s world championships will take place in Australia and New Zealand from July 20th to August 20th. As Olympic champions in Tokyo, Canada is one of the favourites.