The Canadian women's national team are currently locked in a tough situation as they fight for equal pay and resources ahead of the 2023 World Cup.They are one of the latest international sides to take a public stance against recent funding cuts, and they have been backed by the USA in their decision.However, Canada's strike hasn't been straightforward. The players have already been met with threats of fines and legal action from Canada Soccer.Captain Christine Sinclair has also confirmed they are competing at the SheBelieves Cup "out of protest."Indeed, they are using this year's tournament as a platform to get their message across.

What have Canada done to protest?

The Canadians initially released a joint statement from all the players, highlighting their disappointment and frustration over pay equity.

"We are tired of constantly having to fight for fair and equal treatment, and for a program that will give us a chance to achieve what we know this team is capable of achieving for Canada," the statement read.

"This lack of support threatens to reverse the progress we've made as a soccer nation and to send us back to obscurity.

"The national teams cannot afford to be the only ones fighting for our success any longer. Enough was enough a long time ago."

The 'enough is enough' quote has become the tagline of Canada's stance.

Players sported t-shirts featuring the handwritten phrase ahead of their opening clash with the USA.

The t-shirts were purple, which has become a recognised colour associated with women fighting similar battles.

As well as the statement pre-match shirts, the Canada players also arrived at training wearing non-branded or inside-out kits, to hide the team crest.

Sophie Schmidt explained that the crest is still in the hearts of the players, and they are "honoured" to represent Canada, but they feel "let down" by the federation.

"That’s the reason why we have it [training kit] the other way around," the midfielder said. "We know Canadians are behind us and support us."

How has Canada Soccer responded?

When made aware of the women's national team's plans to strike, Canada Soccer responded by claiming their actions would be "unlawful."

The Canadian Soccer Players Association released a statement outlining what was said in the response from the federation.

They confirmed they had planned to take action against "Canada Soccer's significant cuts to our national team programs" and the two parties had met for a meeting to discuss the concerns of the players.

"Prior to that meeting, Canada Soccer told us that they consider our job action to be an unlawful strike," the statement read.

"They told us that if we did not return to work — and did not commit today to playing in Thursday's game against the United States — they would not only take legal action to force us back to the pitch but would consider taking steps to collect what could be millions of dollars in damages from our Players' Association and from each of the individual players currently in camp."

The players had no choice but to make a collective decision to continue with training and competing as they "cannot afford the risks" they are being faced with.

Janine Beckie also shone light on some recent expense numbers, showing the gap between more than $11 million (£9m) for the men's team, and $5 million (£4.1m) for the women in 2021.

USWNT support

The US women's national team players are some of the world's leading voices when it comes to fighting for equality.

They reached the end of their own six-year legal battle last year when they agreed a deal of $24 million (£17.7m) plus bonuses, to match their male counterparts.

But it hasn't been an easy ride for them, and although they may have reached their own goal, they have far from fallen silent when it comes to the fight of others.

Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan both recently showed their support for Canada, with the latter urging Canada Soccer to follow a similar path to the US.

"What do they have to do, win a gold medal? Sell out stadiums? Oh wait..." Morgan sarcastically tweeted.

"It's 2023, wake up @CanadaSoccerEN, you're on the clock."

Indeed, Canada made history in 2021 by earning their first ever Olympic gold medal in women's football.

Team captain Sinclair is also a monumental figure in the sport.

As the world's leading international goalscorer, regardless of gender, and the most capped active player, the 39-year-old is single-handedly inspiring new generations.

But how can women's players continue to create these huge ripple effects without the proper funding and backing from their federation?

"It sucks to see it, but I’m also inspired again by another team standing up and fighting for what they feel like they deserve and what they’re worth," Rapinoe told The Athletic.

"Whether it’s England winning the Euros in the fashion that they did, or the WNBA and their CBA, or the [US] hockey team and our team, the NWSL, Canada now, we’re all on the same team off the field.

"It all feels like a snowball effect."

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