Seattle Sounders FC players recently brought attention to their concerns over player compensation for the upcoming Club World Cup by wearing shirts that read “Club World Cup Ca$h Grab” during their warm-up session before a match against Minnesota United FC on June 1. This move is a reminder of the long-standing tensions between Major League Soccer (MLS) and its players. Most importantly, they are fighting for equitable and just compensation in the world tournament.
The expanded Club World Cup will play out in 2025 from June 14 to July 13 in 11 cities in the United States. It promises to be an exciting tournament featuring 32 teams, including our favorites the Seattle Sounders, Inter Miami, and Los Angeles FC. These clubs, like many teams in MLS, are members of the MLS Players Association (MLSA), a players’ union that represents MLS athletes in collective bargaining agreements with the league. Players have made it very clear that they are not happy with the proposed compensation structure for the US Women’s World Cup victory tour. They contend that even a 20 percent share is far short of international norms.
Ongoing Disputes Over Compensation
No, the players are not protesting out of frustration’s sake. They feel MLS has not compensated them properly for the inconvenience of their Club World Cup participation. Reports indicate that players from the three MLS clubs involved feel undervalued and undercompensated for their contributions to the tournament. The MLSA has expressed disappointment with the league’s response to their concerns.
“Although not surprised, the players and the MLSPA are deeply disappointed by this message,” – MLSPA
Beyond simply donning protest jerseys, athletes have organized on social media platforms to deliver their message. And they’ve been leveraging the hashtag #FairShareNow to help build rapid public support and attention to the fight. Hearing from fans Fans exemplified the public outcry for fair compensation. We’ve been following their discussion on this topic on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Stefan Frei, goalkeeper of the Seattle Sounders, tweeted in even more depth about the ongoing disagreement on June 8, 2025. It’s a sentiment echoed by many athletes. As a result, they find their activism unrewarded and underpaid.
MLS Responds to Player Concerns
Following this wave of player opposition, MLS released a statement further affirming its promise to stand by its players. The league intentionally celebrated the activism of its players. It exemplified its dedication to project them and advocate on their behalf on the global stage.
“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,” – MLS
In spite of this comforting news, opposition from the MLSA is still afoot. The organization’s representatives argue that the current compensation proposal sends a negative message regarding how MLS values its players’ efforts in relation to the tournament.
“The timing, substance and retaliatory nature of the proposal sends a clear message: MLS does not respect or value players’ efforts with regard to this tournament,” – MLSPA
Negotiations between MLS and the MLS Players Association are ongoing. Still, on their part, neither side has made any subsequent statements since their original replies. A failure to communicate This flood of new questions and concerns is prompting even more questions. How specifically are other leagues and teams paying their players to take part in the Club World Cup?
Fan Engagement and Media Coverage
The situation has caught the attention of various media outlets across the United States, which have begun covering the players’ protests and the broader implications for player compensation in soccer. Fans took to social media with the #FairShareNow hashtag to further express their passion for these discussions, and they made their voices heard.
The continuing conversation around player pay is part of a wider struggle in sports towards fairly compensating and acknowledging the work athletes do to further the conversation. As these conversations go on, it’s unclear how MLS will respond to these criticisms in the future.
