Photo by Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports
By SBI SOCCER
Following Wednesday’s reveal that Australia was set to pull out, U.S. Soccer made quick work in finding a replacement for the U.S. Women’s National Team’s upcoming friendlies.
U.S. Soccer announced Thursday that the Matildas would be replaced by Haiti for the USWNT’s pair of upcoming games. The U.S. will now take on Haiti on Sept. 17 in Detroit before facing off yet again in Birmingham, Alabama three days later.
The change comes due to ongoing labor disputes in Australia, with the country’s players’ union calling for an increase in wages, international match payments, improvements in accommodation and other benefits.
According to Pro Footballers Australia chief executive Adam Vivian each women’s national team player makes 21,000 Australian dollars ($14,475) per year, significantly less than their men’s team counterparts.
With Australia pulling out, the U.S. now meets Haiti for the fifth and sixth time in the team’s history, with the prior four all coming in CONCACAF qualifying tournaments. The teams most recently met in Oct. 2014 in Washington, D.C., with the USWNT cruising to a 6-0 win.
What do you think of the change? What do you expect from the new matchups? What do you think of the ongoing dispute in Australia?
Share your thoughts below.
The article makes the Australian dispute sound like an equal pay issue but it is not. The main point of contention has to do with the men’s league. The Matildas are part of the same union though, and have been caught up in the conflict.
US team could just play any top college team and it would be better….but heck, as others have pointed out…stats will get padded.
But there is a silver lining, the Haitian players and federation will earn some much needed money in exchange for the beat-down.
I really don’t like the back to back with the same team although I realize its for financial reasons. I’m not saying going full B squad but mix some new players in with Heath, Rapinoe, Morgan, and Lloyd.
Exactly … padding Abbys stats should not be the goal. But ticket holders come to see the names so fielding a B squad isnt fair either
Most likely unwatchable like the US vs Costa Rica? Hope they actually use this to play some new players. US women need to bring in some new players, Box, Rampone, and Wambach don’t need anymore send off games.
Haiti? Wouldn’t playing the local high school team be more challenging?