MLS players 'deeply disappointed' with league's Club World Cup proposal

Jayda Evans, The Seattle Times on Jun 8, 2025

Published in Soccer

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SEATTLE — The MLS Players Association received a formal proposal from the league late Friday regarding how FIFA men’s Club World Cup money would be divided, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions.

The league didn’t deviate from the collective-bargaining agreement to factor the split for the tournament’s participation money. The CBA clause, which was ratified in 2021, caps player earnings at $1 million for “performance and/or participation in a compulsory tournament or noncompulsory tournament.”

Instead, MLS’s offer is to commit to the players of the participating teams 20% of the performance-related CWC prize money. The Sounders will join Inter Miami CF and Los Angeles FC as the sole MLS clubs participating in the 32-team event.

The Players Association stated Sunday the proposal is “retaliatory in nature” due to the Sounders roster protesting last week a perceived lack of willingness to discuss a payment structure for the new competition. The PA said league representatives, “made it clear, in presenting that offer that they made their offer worse in response to Seattle players wearing the shirts and speaking publicly on this issue.”

The MLSPA’s counteroffer is 40% of all earnings. Neither side stated a deadline to agree on a payment scale.

A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed a proposal was slated to be sent Monday and was pulled because of Seattle’s actions before playing Minnesota United FC at Lumen Field. Sounders majority owner Adrian Hanauer also berated his players for the protest after the match.

But the source stated details weren’t changed within the proposal. The three ownership groups didn’t want the deal to appear as if it were just a response to the protest, according to the source.

“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,” the MLSPA said, in part, in a released statement Sunday. “Although not surprised, the players and the MLSPA are deeply disappointed by this message.”

FIFA announced in March a $1 billion purse for the new quadrennial tournament that opens Saturday with a group-stage match between Miami and Egyptian side Al Ahly FC at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida. Miami is the designated host as winners of the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield.

The Sounders, winners of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions Cup, open group-stage play against Brazil’s Botafogo on Sunday at Lumen Field. LAFC won a play-in match in May to qualify and plays English side Chelsea FC on June 16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Under FIFA’s tiered system, CONCACAF teams, including the MLS trio, will be paid $9.55 million each just for qualifying. Earnings increase from there, beginning with payouts of $2 million for wins and $1 million for draws during three group-stage matches.

Portions of MLS’s proposal were made available to The Seattle Times and there is no initial movement for the participation bonus. The league does claim $750,000 approved in December 2024 as General Allocation Money counts toward CWC bonus earnings, but those funds are for salaries and not every player receives that money. The Sounders have already spent their $750,000, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

MLS’s offer is to commit to the players of the participating teams 20% of the CWC performance-related bonuses. The breakdown is $400,000 for a win and $200,000 for a draw in group-stage matches.

If a club advances, that roster receives an additional $1.5 million. Reaching the quarterfinals would earn those players $2.625 million and $4.2 million for a semifinal win. Players for the MLS team that reaches the CWC final would earn $6 million and if they were to win, the top-off is $8 million.

Should that team be the Sounders, each individual player would earn approximately $1 million total, which matches what Spain’s Real Madrid claimed it will pay its players for winning. The side has won the previous iteration of the CWC — then a seven-team event — five times.

The three MLS rosters are treated separately. Seattle only receives earnings for its performances.

The winning MLS ownership group would keep $73.25 million to put into soccer operations. FIFA’s only stipulation is owners can’t pocket the money for personal use. MLS as a whole, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations, wouldn’t receive any money.

“MLS’s refusal to negotiate in good faith has created a major distraction for the players who should be focusing on preparing for a major international competition,” the MLSPA said, in part, in a released statement. “However, players will not be silenced by threats from MLS. The players remain united in using their collective voice and demanding a fair share of the rewards earned from their hard work.”

The MLSPA launched a social media campaign Sunday to share their stance. Players from the three clubs have posted a graphic that reads “Fair Share Now” repeatedly in Spanish and English.

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