The Canadian coach’s optimistic deal can be closed in time on the women’s World Cup reward
Canadian coach Bev Priestman is optimistic that a deal with the women’s team over the World Cup pre-tournament reward can be finalized.
“I know that’s what both sides want,” Priestman told The Canadian Press on Thursday.
Priestman is not directly involved in the talks, with interim general secretary Jason deVos the point man for Canada Soccer. But she says she believes there is a “common goal” in making a deal for the tournament.
“I just hope it’s there [a resolution] because I know how much of a distraction it is when it isn’t [done]Priestman said. When Jason walked in [to the job], he said to me, ‘My number 1 priority is to get this done, I want to work with you. I want to work with the players to make that happen.’
“So I don’t know the finer details of exactly where we are. But what I will say [is] I hope that will happen.”
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Canadian captain Christine Sinclair said this week that the Canadian women in seventh place wanted to get things settled before getting on a plane to Australia.
There’s not much time. The Canadian women will report to a pre-tournament camp in Australia’s Gold Coast on June 28.
“We’re not at a point where we’re not getting on a plane, but the time is coming when we want to so we don’t have to deal with it as players as we try to prepare,” said Sinclair.
Football North is back with a focus on Canada’s women’s team preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Join host Andi Petrillo and special guests every Friday for insight and analysis leading up to the tournament.
Canada Soccer and its men’s and women’s teams have been embroiled in a labor dispute for over a year.
Sinclair said the players, who want to be able to focus on the World Cup, have told the CSA outright [Canada Soccer] that we need a deal for at least the World Cup and this year before we go there.”
“So obviously we are getting close. I think it will happen. Will it be a long term deal? No. But something will be done before the World Cup starts,” she added.
Canada opens against No. 40 Nigeria in Melbourne on July 21 before facing No. 22 Ireland on July 26 and No. 10 Australia on July 31 in Melbourne.
“Our talks are ongoing and we share a desire to resolve this as soon as possible,” deVos said in a statement to The Canadian Press on Wednesday.
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The women, who founded the Canadian Soccer Players’ Association in 2016, have been without an employment contract since the last one expired at the end of 2021. They have already reached an agreement in principle with Canada Soccer on compensation for 2022, but say other issues have yet to be resolved.
The men, which organized as the Canada Men’s National Soccer Team Players Association last summer, are working on their first formal contract of employment.
Both teams have taken action. The men are boycotting a scheduled friendly match in Vancouver against Panama in June 2022 due to their dissatisfaction with the progress of labor talks.
Earlier this year, the Canadian women threatened to lay down the tools at the SheBelieves Cup in the US, but reluctantly returned to the field after Canada Soccer threatened legal action.
