US Soccer, women’s national team tentatively agree to mediation over pay after World Cup

A tentative deal has reportedly been reached between 28 players on the U.S. women’s soccer team and the U.S. Soccer Federation.

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that the two parties have tentatively agreed to seek mediation over the players’ claims of pay inequalities, which were alleged in a lawsuit filed in March.

{mosads}A spokeswoman for the 28 women suing the organization said that they hoped the mediation offer from the U.S. Soccer Federation was “genuine,” calling the prospect of pay equity with the men’s team “truly remarkable.”

“In the midst of the World Cup, following news regarding significant revenue generated by the women players, USSF decided it is time to sit down with the players’ lawyers,” said spokeswoman Molly Levinson, according to the Journal.

“We hope their pledge to submit a proposal to solve the ongoing gender disparities is genuine. It would be truly remarkable for these games to mark the beginning of pay equity. The world is watching,” she added.

The U.S. women’s soccer team, which is more successful than its male counterpart on the world stage, are set to defend their 2015 World Cup victory this year.

The organization has previously responded to the women’s arguments for equality between the two sexes by explaining that pay is “based on differences in the aggregate revenue generated by the different teams and/or any other factor other than sex.”

USSF reports obtained by The Wall Street Journal earlier this month found that the women’s team games out-earned men’s matches over the past three years.

U.S. Soccer confirmed the negotiation efforts in a statement to the Journal, writing that “[w]e look forward to everyone returning their focus to the efforts on the field as we aim to win another title.”