USMNT’s Early World Cup Exit Secures $15M Payday for USWNT

How the $15 Million Fund Was Earned

The USMNT saw its 2026 World Cup adventure end in a 4‑1 defeat to Belgium during the round of 16, leaving players with bruised egos but a financial windfall in hand. FIFA awarded the United States roughly $15 million for reaching that stage of the tournament. Thanks to a landmark revenue‑sharing pact forged in 2022, the bulk of that sum will flow to the USWNT rather than stay solely with the men’s program.

The agreement, which emerged after years of legal fights and public pressure, stipulates that U.S. Soccer keeps about $3 million of the $15 million, while the remaining $12 million is divided roughly equally between the men’s and women’s player pools. Those funds are placed in an account that will not be released until the conclusion of the 2027 Women’s World Cup cycle, ensuring the money benefits both cohorts over the long term.

When the 2022 collective bargaining agreement was ratified, it tied future FIFA payouts for the 2026 men’s tournament and the 2027 women’s tournament together, mirroring the arrangement used for the 2022‑2023 cycle. This structure means any strong performance by the USWNT in 2027 will directly increase the shared pot, creating a reciprocal payoff for both sides.

A History of Fight for Equity

The women’s domination—from four World Cup titles between 1991 and 2019 to four Olympic golds—stood in stark contrast to the men’s best modern result, a quarter‑final finish in 2002. This disparity fueled a lawsuit filed in March 2019 by 28 USWNT players, who alleged gender discrimination under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII. After a 2020 setback when a judge dismissed the equal‑pay claims, the federation ultimately agreed to a $24 million settlement that funded back pay and initiatives for women’s soccer.

Key figures such as Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Becky Sauerbrunn and Carli Lloyd helped steer the battle into the courts and the public arena, rallying sponsors and fans behind the cause. The settlement paved the way for new CBAs running through 2028, with the most innovative provision targeting the long‑standing imbalance in FIFA prize money.

Historically, FIFA awarded the USMNT $13 million for a 2022 round‑of‑16 appearance, while the USWNT received only $4 million for winning the 2019 title and $2 million for the 2015 championship. The 2023 Women’s World Cup introduced a $110 million total pool, guaranteeing each player at least $30,000 and bonuses up to $270,000 for the champions, marking a shift toward direct player compensation.

What the New CBA Means for Both Teams

Under the 2022 deal, U.S. Soccer retains roughly 20 percent of FIFA’s awarded prize money, leaving the remaining 80 percent to be pooled and split evenly between the men’s and women’s squads. This ensures that a deep run by either side lifts the overall payout, as illustrated when the USMNT’s $13 million haul from 2022 was combined with the women’s share, resulting in nearly $6 million for the USWNT despite their early exit in 2023.

The system creates a mutual incentive: if the USWNT earns a deep run in Brazil in 2027, the combined prize pool could rise to about $25 million for the USMNT’s subsequent cycle. This reciprocal model aligns financial outcomes with on‑field success, promoting parity across the two programs.

Founded on years of legal advocacy and collective action, the agreement reshapes the financial landscape of American soccer, turning past inequities into a shared future of growth and opportunity.