The crowd applauded Sunday night in Lyon, France, as the US women's football team celebrated its second consecutive World Cup title: "E-qual pays! E-qual pays!"

The Americans' 2-0 win over the Netherlands may have meant the end of the 2019 World Cup, but star winger Megan Rapinoe quickly turned the game into a part of the pursuit of the World Cup. equal pay in sport.

"Everyone is sort of asking what happens next and what we want to get out of it," Rapinoe said, according to the Associated Press. "It's stop talking about equal pay, are we worth it, investment … It's time to sit down with everyone and get to work."

More than two dozen female footballers filed a lawsuit for gender-based discrimination against US football in March, and both parties will continue to mediate in the weeks and months ahead. But what exactly is the pay gap between men and women, both in American football and in sport? And does this correspond to the results?

Megan Rapinoe, right, celebrates with teammates Alex Morgan and Sam Mewis after scoring a goal on a shot at goal against the Netherlands in the World Cup title match. (Photo: Michael Chow, USA TODAY Sports)

Here is an overview of the fight for equal pay in American football.

How are the players paid?

At the heart of the fight for equal pay lies a difference in How the men and women who play for the national football team are paid.

The American football federation wrote in court that the two groups were paid differently because of differences in their collective bargaining agreements. Men have collectively bargained for what the federation calls a "pay-for-play" structure loaded with incentives. The women's collective agreement includes guaranteed wages and benefits.

According to the Washington Post, which quotes copies of the two agreements, the American footballers can sign contracts with an annual salary of US $ 100,000 and additional bonuses in case of victory and draw. Men do not earn an annual salary, but they receive larger bonuses per match, including a $ 5,000 guarantee, even if they lose.

According to the newspaper, under these conditions, a player who has played (and won) 20 matches of exhibition games will receive only 89% of what a male player would have in the same circumstances. If both players lose each of the 20 games, the payment will be the same for both groups: $ 100,000.

RAPINOE, THE FIRST YEARS: Take a look in the USWNT High School Yearbook

What is a World Cup victory worth?

The payment of the World Cup is less about American football than FIFA, the governing body of the sport.

According to FIFA's 2018 financial report, the organization has allocated $ 400 million in prizes to participating football federations for the 2018 World Cup. A portion of these funds is then generally passed on to the players. The team that won the competition, France, received $ 38 million from FIFA.

According to the same report, FIFA was to allocate $ 30 million in prize money for the 2019 World Cup, the US $ 4 million champion. That's 10.5% of what the men's World Cup champions have received.

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What does this mean for the United States?

According to the lawsuit filed by American players, men and women have been compensated differently by American football for their past performances at the World Cup.

According to the lawsuit, women received $ 1.725 million for winning the 2015 event, although it's important to note that it was before their current ACA, which was finalized in 2017. In the meantime, the men received $ 5.375 million to reach the round of 16. in 2014, the lawsuit alleges. (In an answer filed in court, US Soccer rejected these claims.)

The arguments that follow are fairly simple: American football can point fingers at FIFA and say that it would be the same for men and women if the governing body awarded the same prize money. The players can, however, assert that it is incumbent on the federation to guarantee equal pay on the basis of the results, regardless of FIFA.

According to many sources, the national women's team would have a financial advantage that men would not benefit: A tour of four wins that will bring players approximately $ 60,000.

How do the results compare?

The US Women's National Team has been much more successful – it is a key pillar of the players' argument for equal pay.

Since 1991, the year of the first Women's World Cup, the United States has won four titles, a second place in 2011 and three third places. The men have only one appearance in the quarter-finals and three trips in the round of 16 in the same period. They did not qualify for the World Cup last year in Russia.

Contribute: The Associated Press

Contact Tom Schad at [email protected] or on Twitter @ Tom_Schad.

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