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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Alexander Abnos

Players union condemns MLS’s Club World Cup prize money offer

Cristian Roldan #7 of the Seattle Sounders walks onto the field for warm ups before the game against the Minnesota United FC at Lumen Field on June 01, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.
Cristian Roldan #7 of the Seattle Sounders walks onto the field for warm ups before the game against the Minnesota United FC at Lumen Field on June 01, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. Photograph: Olivia Vanni/Getty Images

Major League Soccer has submitted a new proposal to its players concerning how bonuses for the Club World Cup will be paid, a source familiar with negotiations has told the Guardian. The MLS Players’ Association, the union representing MLS players, later confirmed they had received a proposal.

According to the source, the league’s offer would see players earn 20% of a team’s performance-based prize money at each stage of the tournament with no agreed-upon cap on maximum payout. This means each group of MLS players competing in the tournament would collectively receive $200,000 for a group stage draw (from a total prize of $1m), $400,000 for a group stage win (from a total prize of $2m per team, per win), $1.5m for making the Round of 16 (from a total prize of $7.5m) and so on.

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