What's in a Scoreline? The Fight for Fair Funding in Women's Soccer

Members of the USWNT captured at sunset during training camp. Team USA’s continued dominance likely due, in part, to having the resources to out-train the competition. (Photo: US Soccer)

The last time Colombia played the United States in the World Cup, the score was 2-0. It was a game filled with drama! A pair of yellow cards to Rapinoe and Holiday, the Colombian keeper sent off with a red card, and a missed penalty by Wambach, to name a few. It was a game that many felt was well played and evenly matched. It was a game that likely changed the intensity of Team USA heading into the remainder of the tournament.

When the two teams faced off again on Wednesday, the United States routed Colombia seven to zero. What happened?

“I have great respect for Colombia, I always have. I think they’re a great team. So I’m a little bit surprised the score line was 7-0, I expected more from them” said Hope Solo “It was a pretty combative game in the World Cup, and tonight, I don’t know if we’re peaking a little bit too early before Brazil, but we looked good and I’m happy with where our team is at. Hopefully Colombia peaks as well going into Brazil.”

Uneven Road to Rio

Las Cafeteras huddle up before a match during the FIFA World Cup last summer (Photo: FCF.com.co)

It is possible that the USA is peaking too early, although given the multiple combinations of players, there is still a lot to finalize and perfect for the United States. However, it must be noted that the United States will have more time through camps and upcoming friendlies to solidify a team prior to Rio. Additionally, players will have time with the NWSL prior to Jill Ellis making her final selection in early July, “what I’ve told the players is, performance in the league is a factor … it also lets me to assess and evaluate players in the league.”

In addition to club matches and at least one more training camp, the USWNT will play 5 matches (including Sunday) before Rio. Since the World Cup, the United States has competed in 20 matches, including Wednesday’s win. Of those matches, 13 have been against World Cup and/or Olympic competitors. The US Women’s National Team has also entered 3 training camps.

Within the same time period, the Colombian Women’s National Team has played no friendlies, has held a few domestic camps, and only competed in game scenarios against Colombian boys teams. That is, until they took the field on a cold April night to take on reigning World Cup champions, the United States.

The Colombian National Team has not had consistent or highly competitive competition since the Pan American games in July. Additionally, despite a second place finish in the Pan Am games, the team has not been compensated. On Wednesday, Jonathan Tannenwald of Philly.com reported that the Colombian team has not been paid in months. According to Yorely Rincón, the decision to travel to compete against the United States was in question. The following is an excerpt from Tannenwald’s article on Yorely Rincón’s return to Philly:

“At one point, Rincón told me, the players considered striking and refusing to board the plane to the United States. They ultimately decided that traveling here could help them get the word out about their plight.

‘We will play the first game’ in Hartford, Rincón said. ‘But we don't know what will happen with the second game. Maybe we will play, maybe the federation will give us our money and that will change everything. But if we don't have money, we need to make some statement.’”

On Wednesday, Carli commented on the challenges the Colombian team currently face, “Well, I’m good friends with Yorely Rincón and she was texting with me and I wasn’t sure if they were going to actually come over here and play. It’s really a shame to know that they haven’t been paid in four months, especially coming off a great World Cup run, and they get paid $70 a day, and they’re not even getting that.”

Lloyd continued, “it’s just really hard for me to understand them coming off such a great World Cup run and them being told that all the money is going to the men.”

Business As Usual

Trinidad & Tobago keeper Kanika Forbes tracks the ball in a 1-0 loss against the US in 2014. The last time the two teams faced off, Forbes had another stellar game, despite the 6-0 score line. (Photo: Getty Images)

Wage and discrimination issues are beginning to come to the surface, and most stories somehow include the United States. In September, the Australian Women’s Soccer Team went on strike just before two scheduled friendlies against the United States. The matches were slated as part of the USWNT Victory Tour. The Matildas hadn’t been paid in 2 months leading up to the strike, and attempts from the players union to negotiate went unrecognized.

During the Victory Tour, it was reported by Julie Foudy that the US Soccer Federation offered a loan to the Trinidad & Tobago federation to stave off a boycott. The women had been complaining for years about lack of funding and missed payments. However, there are reports that offer a bit of a twist to the original report on the ESPN broadcast. Either way, the issue of money and conditions for female players continued to provide a blemish on an otherwise successful Victory Tour.

USWNT Leadership

Rincon and Lloyd share a moment after the 2-0 US victory in the 2015 World Cup. The two have remained close since Rincon was invited to Training Camp with the Western New York Flash in 2014. (Photo: Bruce Edwards/Edmonton Journal)

The USWNT most recent move to file a discrimination complaint against the US Soccer Federation is huge for women’s soccer, “We want to help other countries out, I know Australia has been fighting as well. All these teams just needs the support of their federations,” said Lloyd in response to being a source of inspiration for other teams, “we’ve been very lucky over the years to have the support of our federation, but I think that in order for us to continue to grow, we have to keep fighting as well … we’re trying to set the standard and get what we deserve, and I hope all these other countries get what they deserve as well.”

The US team was supportive of the Matildas when the Australian players decided not to compete during the Victory Tour. The players give every indication of doing the same, should Colombia decide not to play tomorrow.

“We think any team that feels like their [not being] paid fairly, or paid what they feel they’re owed, we’re gonna support them in whatever decision, however they want to deal with their federation” commented Becky Sauerbrunn on Wednesday. “We’re gonna support them as they supported us”

The Road Ahead

Both Colombia and the United States see the Olympic games as an opportunity to progress towards the future. While Colombia is looking to continue to improve results in International competition, the United States is looking to make history by winning a World Cup and Olympic gold back-to-back. Both teams have proven they possess the personnel on the field to accomplish such feats. Both teams have a wealth of leadership and young talent blending to forge a new future.

The question for both is, will the respective federations stand in support of the Olympians who don the colors of their nation? Or will they choose - through actions and inactions – to continue to allow the women to fight multiple battles with little support?

Follow Erica Ayala on Twitter @elindsay08