The Canadian men’s soccer team announced on Monday that it will return to training after refusing to play a friendly against Panama due to stalled contract negotiations with Canada Soccer.
Just two hours before Sunday’s start in Vancouver, Canadians told Canada Soccer they would not play the friendly, demanding changes to their compensation agreement, including a larger share of World Cup awards for players. .
Qatar is only the second time Canada has qualified for the World Cup and the first since 1986.
“Canada Soccer senior leaders and men’s players met on Sunday night to continue the negotiation process. The players will train this afternoon (Monday) with future meetings scheduled for a resolution,” he said. Soccer Canada in a statement on its official Twitter account. .
In a letter obtained by the TSN sports network, the players set out a long list of demands, including a 40% share of the World Cup awards and a “complete package of friends and family” for Qatar.
The players also called for a fair compensation package for the Canadian women’s national team and the development of a national women’s league. With the negotiators at the table, the players returned to the field on Monday to continue their preparations for Qatar, but made it clear in a letter that no agreement had been reached.
Canada is scheduled to play Curaçao in a CONCACAF Nations League match at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver on Thursday.
“The players have met with Canada Soccer senior leaders on Sunday evening and will continue the negotiation process, but questions have not yet been answered and actions have not yet been taken,” the players said. “We look forward to Canada Soccer working with us to resolve the situation.”