Latest news with #ClubWorldCashGrab
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'There's No Incentive': Sounders Protest MLS's $1M Club World Cup Cap
'There's No Incentive': Sounders Protest MLS's $1M Club World Cup Cap originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Seattle Sounders players have unleashed chaos, by sporting "Club World Cash Grab" T-shirts before their clash with Minnesota United yesterday. They're demanding a fair cut of the $9.55 million in Club World Cup prize money ( MLS's particularly stingy payout rules have ignited this fiery revolt. Advertisement The Sounders, Inter Miami, and LAFC will battle in the 32-team Club World Cup, hosted across the U.S. from June 14 to July 13, 2025. Each club secures $9.55 million, though MLS caps player payouts at $1 million per team ( This clashes with global norms. Related: Is FIFA's Club World Cup the Biggest Flop in Soccer History? The MLS collective bargaining agreement, locked in 2021, predates the tournament's expansion. The MLSPA says players pushed for equitable talks, but MLS clings to the outdated deal ( Sounders' Stefan Frei told The Seattle Times, 'There's no incentive' with a 90-10 split. Sounding the alarm, players are calling out the MLS and asking for a fair share of the prize-pot.© Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images Globally, players often pocket 50-70% of FIFA prize money. European clubs like PSG and Atlético Madrid, in Seattle's Group B, follow fairer models ( The Sounders' protest targets MLS's refusal to align with global norms, leaving players feeling cheated. Advertisement The MLSPA declared: 'Players elevate MLS globally' (MLSPA). FIFA's $1 billion prize pool, with $475 million performance-based, demands better splits. MLS's silence, citing ongoing negotiations, only stokes player fury. Seattle's 'Fair Share Now' T-shirts weren't just for show. Fans, including Emerald City Supporters, roared in support. MLS valuations soar—LAFC at $1.25 billion, Inter Miami at $1.2 billion ( yet player payouts stay miserly. This gap fuels the unrest. The Club World Cup, spanning seven MLS stadiums, is a global spotlight. Seattle faces Botafogo, Atlético Madrid, and PSG at Lumen Field, starting June 15 ( Unfair pay could sour this showcase. This clash could reshape MLS's future. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup looming, addressing player demands is critical. Will MLS evolve, or will the rebellion grow? Next: Is FIFA's Club World Cup the Biggest Flop in Soccer History? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
MLS players want fair share of Club World Cup prize money. Here's how one club protested.
MLS players want fair share of Club World Cup prize money. Here's how one club protested. Show Caption Hide Caption FIFA Club World Cup will set stage for big things in United States The FIFA Club World Cup is set to take the global stage and two legendary managers explain how it will have an impact on fans and the 2026 World Cup. Sports Seriously Major League Soccer players want more money for participating in the FIFA Club World Cup later this month, but say they have received pushback from the league in their efforts. Seattle Sounders players wore shirts with the phrases 'Club World Cash Grab' and 'Fair Share Now' during pregame warmups Sunday before their match against Minnesota to demand a fair share of the Club World Cup prize money their club will earn during the tournament later this month. Three MLS clubs — Seattle, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC — will represent the league in the tournament, which begins June 14 and will be hosted in the United States. FIFA's Club World Cup boasts a $1 billion prize pool — $475 million disbursed based on performance, and $525 million given to participating teams. The winner will take home at least $125 million. The MLS teams will make at least $9.5 million just for participating, while wins during each stage of the tournament will only drive up the possible earnings. However, MLS players earn 50 percent of money earned from outside tournaments — capped at $1 million, according to the league's collective bargaining agreement. The MLS Players Association released a statement shortly after the Sounders players display. 'The MLSPA and all MLS players stand united with the Seattle Sounders players who tonight demanded a fair share of the FIFA Club World Cup prize money,' the statement read. 'FIFA's new tournament piles on to players' ever-increasing workload without regard to their physical well-being. In order to seize this additional calendar territory, FIFA had to commit historic amounts of prize money to secure club and player participation. As a result, MLS will receive an unprecedented financial windfall. 'Despite this windfall, the league has refused to allocate a fair percentage of those funds to the players themselves. 'For months, the players have privately and respectfully invited the league to discuss bonus terms, yet MLS has failed to bring forward a reasonable proposal. Instead of recognizing the players who have brought MLS to the global stage, the league – which routinely asks the (player association) to deviate from the (collective bargaining agreement) – is clinging to an out-of-date CBA provision and ignoring longstanding international standards on what players typically receive from FIFA prize money in global competitions. 'It is the players who make the game possible. It is the players who are lifting MLS up on the global stage. They expect to be treated fairly and with respect.' Messi and Inter Miami will play in the Club World Cup opener against Egyptian club Al Alhy on June 14 in Miami. Inter Miami will also play FC Porto (Portugal) on June 19 in Atlanta, and SE Palmeiras (Brazil) on June 23 in the group stage. The Sounders will play all three of their group stage matches at home in Lumen Field in Seattle. They'll face Botafogo (Brazil) on June 15, Atletico Madrid (Spain) on June 19, then Paris Saint-Germain (France) on June 23. LAFC became the last team to enter the Club World Cup after a thrilling 2-1 win against Liga MX standouts Club America on Saturday night. They will face Chelsea (England) in Atlanta on June 16, Espérance (Tunisia) in Nashville on June 20 and CR Flamengo (Brazil) in Orlando on June 24 during the group stage. The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.
