A new proposal regarding the distribution of bonus payments for the Club World Cup has emerged in Major League Soccer (MLS), sparking discussions between league officials and players. According to a well-informed source, MLS has presented its players with an updated plan concerning how prize money will be allocated during the tournament. The MLS Players’ Association (MLSPA) confirmed receipt of this offer, which outlines changes to the existing bonus structure as stipulated in their collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
This revised plan suggests that players would receive 20% of their team's performance-based prize money at every stage of the competition without any predetermined cap on payouts. For instance, teams could collectively earn $200,000 for a group-stage victory or up to $1.5 million for advancing to the Round of 16. Currently, under the CBA, players are entitled to half of any prize money from external tournaments but are capped at $1 million regardless of performance.
In the hypothetical scenario where an MLS club triumphs in the Club World Cup, players would share a substantial prize pool amounting to $23.9 million. Conversely, even if a team loses all its matches, participants would still secure a minimum collective bonus of $1 million. Despite these terms, the MLSPA criticized the proposal, stating it falls short of international standards and accused the league of pressuring players into waiving certain rights related to the tournament.
The issue gained public attention when the Seattle Sounders protested last weekend by wearing T-shirts during warm-ups advocating for better financial arrangements. This discontent highlights ongoing tensions surrounding fair compensation for player participation in high-profile competitions. Originally scheduled for announcement on Monday, the league postponed revealing the details until Friday.
As excitement builds for the Club World Cup set to commence on June 16 across various U.S. cities, three MLS clubs—Seattle Sounders, Inter Miami, and Los Angeles FC—are preparing to compete on the global stage. These developments underscore the importance of equitable agreements ensuring both league success and player satisfaction.