Winning the equal pay battle remains one of the most crucial milestones in the history of U.S. Soccer. The USWNT, with the help of key figures like Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, went all in to ensure a deal was struck, guaranteeing that both the men’s and women’s national teams received equal pay. As proud as one can be to hear this story time and again, it’s hard not to feel disheartened knowing that such a luxury is still out of reach for many other women’s national teams.

That’s because you’ll be shocked to hear about a mind-boggling pay gap now that exists within the women’s game. In today’s SheBelieves Cup match, the American ladies hosted Colombia where they secured a comfortable 2-0 win. Now, typically, be it any tournament or friendly game, contesting players do get some sort of compensation from their respective national team federations.

Hence, on the occasion of the SheBelieves Cup, the same suit is being followed by all the participating teams. Now, during today’s match featuring USWNT and Colombia, the broadcaster shared some shocking information regarding each team’s pay. Speaking for the hosts first, the American players are earning $8,000 per game. That’s not all as for each win in any game, they will also get an additional $10,000 bonus.

For Colombia, you ask? Well, we thought that given the stark differences between the federations of these nations, there might be some distinction in pay as well. But what the broadcaster revealed next will literally drop your jaw. Apparently, the Colombia women’s national team players are earning not more than just $80 per day during the 10-day SheBelieves Cup!

Intriguing or surprising? Maybe both. There was a time when we used to hear such kind of pay differences whenever men’s and women’s games were compared. But who would have thought a day would come to see such disparities between two women’s teams? Sure, one can’t deny the fact of how well Team USA is established. From state-of-the-art facilities to affluent financial backers, they have everything, even though it all came at the cost of going rebellious.

Meanwhile, Las Chicas Superpoderosas aren’t as privileged as the Stars and Stripes’ female players. In fact, this also raises the question of how much the Colombian federation is paying its men’s team. While the exact figure hasn’t been disclosed, it would certainly be concerning for the women’s team if they are as far behind La Tricolor as they are compared to the USWNT.

Then again, this stat alone showcases how much work the women’s game needs. Let alone the fact you hear more examples like these.

The pay gap is still not addressed in the eyes of USWNT!

USWNT icon Brandi Chastain was once asked about a change that the women’s game still needs. Interestingly, the 2x World Cup winner responded, “How can we have a professional environment when we’re not paying a wage that is above almost poverty? That’s where we were. We’re not asking for what [Cristiano] Ronaldo’s making but we’re asking for a comparable salary or salary cap.”

The modern women’s game indeed continues to elevate itself. To cite Naomi Girma’s instance, she broke the transfer record with her $1 million. While this move is no less than a testament to the growth of the women’s game, they still lack in terms of wages. Another example is Hayes. Thanks to the equal pay, the English tactician secured a historic $1.6 million annual contract as a USWNT coach.

This figure even matched what Gregg Berhalter used to earn as the MNT boss. It would then also mean that new American boys manager Mauricio Pochettino is also getting the same as Hayes. But surprisingly, he isn’t. The former Tottenham man is pocketing a whopping $6 million per annum, as per various reports.

Of course, one can consider factors like audience interest and overall popularity playing a major role in the pay gap. Then again, after hearing about Colombian player’s pay, it’s shocking how significant disparities exist within the women’s game. Regardless, we would like to know your thoughts on the same.