Seattle Sounders Players Protest Over $1 Million Prize Money Cap for 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is fast approaching, and the Seattle Sounders are already embroiled in a heated dispute over the distribution of prize money. The players, who will compete alongside 31 other teams from around the world, are unhappy with the current agreement that only guarantees them a small slice of the $1 billion prize pool if they manage to win it all. The Sounders players took their frustration to the field on Sunday, wearing warm-up shirts that read "Club World Ca$h Grab" in protest. The shirts quickly gained attention on social media, and the issue was further fueled when owner Adrian Hanauer addressed the team in a profanity-laced postgame address. The players felt pushed enough to discuss the issue with reporters in a joint address on Monday. The heart of the matter is that the players, who already have a full and taxing schedule, are being asked to play an additional three to seven games for the Club World Cup. While FIFA has addressed this concern by offering a massive prize pool, the players' share is capped at $1 million, no matter how far they advance in the tournament. This provision was included in the MLS Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in 2021, when the Club World Cup was still a minor seven-club competition. The MLS Players Association (MLSPA) has released a statement in solidarity with the Sounders and other teams competing in the tournament, demanding a "fair share" of the prize money. The union claims it has "respectfully" invited the league to the negotiating table for months but has not received a reasonable proposal. The MLSPA specifically called out the $1 million clause as out of date and ignorant of longstanding international standards for player payment in global competitions. It's worth noting that the MLSPA did agree to the CBA without foresight that FIFA would be offering such a large prize pool. The Sounders are one of three MLS teams competing in the tournament, alongside LAFC and Inter Miami. Seattle is placed in Group B alongside France's Paris Saint-Germain, Spain's Atlético Madrid, and Brazil's Botafogo. While neither of the other American teams have publicly aired their grievances like the Sounders have, it's hard to imagine either group of players being happy with what the league is currently arguing for. The dispute over prize money is just one of many issues that have arisen as the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup approaches. With so much on the line for both players and organizations alike, it will be interesting to see how this dispute is resolved in the coming weeks. In the meantime, fans can look forward to seeing some of the world's best clubs compete for glory and bragging rights on the field.
