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Despite new offer, MLS players reportedly not close on Club World Cup bonus deal with the league

Major League Soccer

Seattle Sounders FC

Columbus Crew

MLS reportedly made a proposal to the MLS Players Association that would increase performance-based bonuses in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, but the two sides don’t appear close to an agreement.The league sent the proposal to the league on Friday, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6408980/2025/06/08/mls-players-club-world-cup-bonus-money-agreement/">according to The Athletic</a>. The union responded in a statement on Sunday afternoon, calling the league’s proposal “retaliatory” and saying the league had “ignored months of attempts by players to engage.”According to the current CBA, MLS players would be paid a maximum of $1 million in prize money&nbsp;from the tournament, a small percentage of the minimum of $9.55 million MLS will receive for participating in the Club World Cup. The new MLS proposal reportedly would add a 20 percent bonus to any money earned beyond that - including for wins, draws and advancement to further rounds.According to <a href="https://x.com/tombogert/status/1931780832068538498" target="_self">Tom Bogert</a>, the MLSPA countered with a request of 40 percent.The Athletic also reported that MLS offered an option for owners to convert up to $750,000 of the participation fee into general allocation money, and the three teams - Seattle Sounders, Inter Miami and LAFC opted to max that out.Sunday's statement from the MLSPA read:"MLS spent most of last week making threats and promising retaliation against the MLSPA and players because Seattle players wore t-shirts that expressed frustration over the league's refusal to engage about Club World Cup compensation. After ignoring months of attempts by players to engage, late Friday afternoon, less than 48 hours before LAFC and Seattle players were to take the field once again, the league finally provided the PA with their first proposal on this issue. As promised, this proposal was retaliatory in nature."The timing, substance, and retaliatory nature of the proposal sends a clear message: MLS does not respect or value players' efforts with regard to this tournament. Although not surprised, the players and the MLSPA are deeply disappointed by this message. MLS's refusal to negotiate in good faith has created a major distraction for the players who should be focusing on preparing for a major international competition. However, players will not be silenced by threats from MLS. The players remain united in using their collective voice and demanding a fair share of the rewards earned from their hard work."<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">An update on Club World Cup Bonuses. MLS spent most of last week making threats and promising retaliation against the MLSPA and players because Seattle players wore t-shirts that expressed frustration over the league’s refusal to engage about Club World Cup compensation. More… <a href="https://t.co/jAz06ASGYw">pic.twitter.com/jAz06ASGYw</a>— MLSPA (@MLSPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLSPA/status/1931777117320331582?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

WHAT HAPPENED?

The <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/club-world-cash-grab-seattle-sounders-players-demand-fair-mls-payout-for-cwc-backed-by-mlspa/blt5d528dec828f9a82" target="_blank">Sounders protested ahead of a game on June 1 </a>regarding the $1 million cap on the bonuses.&nbsp; Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer reportedly confronted the team after the game for the protest."The MLSPA and all MLS players stand united with the Seattle Sounders players who tonight demanded a fair share of the FIFA Club World Cup prize money," the union said at the time. "FIFA's new tournament piles on to players' ever-increasing workload without regard to their physical well-being. In order to seize this additional calendar territory, FIFA had to commit historic amount of prize money to secure club and player participation. As a result, MLS will receive an unprecedented financial windfall."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Club World Cup begins on June 14 when Lionel Messi and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-my/match/al-ahly-sc-vs-inter-miami-cf/cE0KiKAS8vTAkoi8zTtm8" target="_self">Inter Miami host Al Ahly</a> at Hard Rock Stadium.

DID YOU KNOW?

With the Club World Cup starting in less than a week, it's expected that the two parties will continue negotiations.

WHAT NEXT?

Despite new offer, MLS players reportedly not close on Club World Cup bonus deal with the league | Goal.com

MLS reportedly made offer to MLSPA, but the parties have not reached settlement less than a week from the CWC kickoff

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