Canada players end strike to continue Qatar 2022 preparations

Canada players have ended their strike to continue preparations for the 2022 World Cup but warned “questions have yet to be answered and actions have yet to be taken”.

The team, who qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time since 1986, had taken action in a dispute over Qatar 2022 prize money.

As a friendly against Panama had to be called off, Canada Soccer responded to reports players would receive only 10 per cent of the pot it received from FIFA.

Canada Soccer said it had proposed 30 per cent would go to the men’s team, 30 per cent to the women’s team and 40 per cent to the association.

The players, the association claimed, asked for somewhere between 75 and 100 per cent of the money. A letter from the players asked for 40 per cent.

This letter said negotiations over compensation had been “unnecessarily prolonged” by executives “taking vacations” before players were presented with “an archaic offer” last week.

The team apologised to Panama as they went on a short-lived strike, which was ended by their return to training this week – albeit without a resolution.

“We, the Canadian men’s national team, have decided to resume training in preparation for the road to Qatar,” they said in a second letter.

“To be clear, we have not reached an agreement with [Canada Soccer].

“The players have met with the senior leaders of Canada Soccer on Sunday evening and will continue the negotiation process, but questions have yet to be answered and actions have yet to be taken.

“We move forward in hope that Canada Soccer will work with us to resolve the situation.”

Canada Soccer added: “Canada Soccer senior leaders and the men’s national team players met on Sunday night to continue the negotiation process.

“The players will train this [Monday] afternoon with future meetings scheduled toward a resolution.”

Canada begin their World Cup campaign against 2018 semi-finalists Belgium in Al Rayyan on November 23 and will also play Croatia and Morocco in Group F.