NEW YORK,NY(SMI-ENTERTAINEMTN-SPORTS,06.25.21)-The women's soccer sport has become a  global phenomenon for the past decade, reaching a combined audience of 1.2 billion people worldwide and gross receipts of more than 4 billion per tournament(World Cup) - but the desparity of salary between women and men's players has not changed as the " LFG" film sparkled on its world premiere,  exposing the real story behind the filing of gender discrimation lawsuit of the US Women's soccer national team against the United States Soccer Federation at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.

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The United States women's national soccer team (USWNT) is world-ranked#1 by FIFA women's World Ranking and represents the United States in international soccer tournaments like the FIFA Women's World Cup, Olympics & CONCACAF Gold Cups. 

 

The US is considered the most successful Women's World Cup team in the world, winning 4-world cup titles(1991,1999, 2015 & 2019) and is one of only seven nations to play in every World Cup. They also won 4 Olympic medals (1996, 2004, 2008, & 2012), and 8 CONCACAF Gold Cups.

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 "LFG" is a wage discrimination story, where 4 players from the US women's national soccer team: Megan Rapinoe, Jessica McDonald, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O’Hara  others– filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation.

They tell their stories of their accomplishments, emotional toll of being an athlete and the fierce legal battle against the US Soccer Federation. The lawsuit claims that their  compensation is lower despite their higher record of success in recent years comparing to the the U.S. men's national soccer team and demand equal pay.

 

 

Equal Pay, a battle ground for decades on and off the field for women. Although they get victory over victory in their sport, the USWNT, are well behind in pay. Dominant in the sport as is no other team, they are paid far less than their male counterparts in the USA on a game by game basis, by success, lesser facilities, accommodations, travel. How much more practical might it have been to just pay them, not fight, run up legal fees, with a pair of firms as the first made a misstep that the #'s 1 & 2 at the federation both missed, but only the top one took the fall, the 2nd took his position?  The USSF went on to hire a lobbyist, more $$ out the door. They say they paid more, yes for more games, for far more success, but even then barely. The women want far more money but FIFA, the governing body pays less than 10% out compared to the men. Where is the money to come from. Clealry they have public opinion on their side, is that enough? The equal pay part of the suit has been tossed but they are in an appeal now for that. The ex-Prez. stated in front of millions at a parade to celebrate these world beaters, equitable pay, not the same as equal, yet then received an endorsement from a leader on the team? It seems like the cards are stacked against them, they are a team of winners, we shall see who prevails. Stating that the job for the men is more difficult, getting into VO2 MAX etc, is not a good tact to take in a discrimination suit, do more of the same in defeating them on it? Each person from players to lawyers have a role in the movie and the suit. We get behind the scenes looks at the usually guarded players and see their true personalities come through, warts and all. This movie did aid their case as it personalized the players and their cause.  

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The story received a global attention for few years that on March 08, 2021,  on the second anniversary of the team's pay descrimination lawsuit, two US Congresswomen Doris Matsui and Rosa DeLauro introduced the "Give Our Athletes Level Salaries (GOALS) Act"  to ensure the U.S. Women's national soccer team are paid fair and equitable wages compared to the U.S. Men's team".

The GOALS Act threatens to cut federal funding for the 2026 World Cup if the U.S. Soccer Federation does not comply.

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Great Film, engaging and educational for all audiences.