Major League Soccer (MLS) and its Players Union are locked in a dispute over financial compensation for players from the three MLS teams participating in the Club World Cup. These teams—Seattle Sounders, LAFC, and Inter Miami—are among the 32 clubs competing in this global tournament, which kicks off on Saturday. For their participation, each team will secure $9.55 million, with opportunities to earn more through performance-related bonuses.
However, the Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) expressed dissatisfaction on Sunday, highlighting that the league had put forward a proposal on Friday that didn’t include any additional participation bonuses for the players. The union criticized the offered back-end compensation as “below-standard” and mentioned that the league sought unrelated concessions to the existing collective bargaining agreement.
Under the current collective bargaining agreement, the prize money allocated to players is capped at $1 million. The MLSPA argues that players are entitled to a larger portion of these funds. “The timing, substance, and retaliatory nature of the proposal send a clear message: MLS does not respect or value players’ efforts with regard to this tournament,” the MLSPA stated on Sunday. The players and the union expressed disappointment with the league’s stance.
In response, MLS issued a statement on Sunday clarifying its position. “As the Seattle Sounders FC, Inter Miami CF, and the Los Angeles Football Club prepare to compete in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, Major League Soccer has agreed to voluntarily provide additional performance-based compensation to players from the three participating clubs,” the league stated. MLS proposed a more generous compensation structure for the tournament, which would reward both participation and competitive success. Notably, in addition to the guaranteed $1 million for qualifying, 20 percent of all prize money earned in the group stage and beyond would be allocated to players. Success in the Club World Cup could result in players earning collectively more than $24 million in performance bonuses.
MLS owners believe that performance-based incentives are appropriate given the expanded format and increased prize pool of the tournament. “The League values the continued dedication and commitment of its players and looks forward to supporting them as they represent their clubs—and Major League Soccer—on the global stage this summer.”
Negotiations between the league and the union are ongoing. The Seattle Sounders highlighted the issue last weekend by wearing T-shirts before a match branded with “Club World Cup Ca$h Grab,” and on Sunday, numerous players, including Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei and LAFC center-back Aaron Long, shared the hashtag #FairShareNow.
“The players remain unified in using their collective voice and demanding a fair share of the rewards earned from their hard work,” the union asserted. The Club World Cup will feature a broader group of club teams from across the globe, with matches being played in 11 U.S. cities.