Senator Proposes Blocking Men's World Cup Funds Until US Women's Team Receives Equal Pay

West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin announced Tuesday a bill to retain federal funds for the Men's World Cup unless the US national football team receives pay equity .

The proposed law by Manchin would prevent the federal government from funding the FIFA 2026 Men's Tournament, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico, at less than equal pay between men's and women's football teams. female.

"The clearly unfair pay between the US and women's football teams is unacceptable and I am pleased that the last victory of the US women's football team is causing a public outcry," said Senator Manchin. "They are the best in the world and deserve to be paid accordingly."

Manchin said his bill was inspired by a letter from West Virginia University Women's Football (WVU) head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown.

Izzo-Brown's letter to Manchin indicated that the women's team was making a profit, while the men, who did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup, were producing a net loss.

"Inequality in wages is unfair and this pay gap with the US men's national team must stop," wrote Izzo-Brown. "Women won four titles, none men, the female audience in the FIFA World Cup finals exceeded men in the United States by more than three million (men 11.4, women 14.3 ). "

The Manchin bill would reduce funds allocated to host cities and all participating organizations, including the American Football Federation, the Confederation of Football Associations of North America, Central America and the Caribbean. (CONCACAF) and the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA).

Before the World Cup, the US women's team had filed a federal lawsuit accusing the American football federation of engaging in "institutionalized sexist discrimination" reflecting differences in pay, medical care, travel organization and overall workload of the women's and men's teams.

Since winning its fourth World Cup title on Sunday, the US women's team has revived the debate on gender equality in sport. The crowds in France began singing "equal pay" after the team beat the Netherlands in a 2-0 win.

Co-captain of the team, Megan Rapinoe, said Tuesday on ABC, "Good Morning America," that the discussion on equal pay had to go beyond the simple question of whether the # 39, female team was worth more money and start to question what could be done afterwards.

"How can FIFA support the federations?" Asked Rapinoe. "How can the federations better support their players, how can the league better support their players?"

The American Football Federation did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.