The captain of the Canadian women's soccer teamChristine Sinclair, confirmed that the national team will go on strike this week due to a lack of funding which they believe will compromise their ability to perform at this year's Women's World Cup in Oceania.

Less than a week until the Olympic champions face the United States, Brazil and Japan in SheBelieves CupSinclair and Janine Beckie appeared on Canadian sports channel TSN to say that will not participate in any team activitiesincluding the parties, until the conflict is resolved.

Now is the time to act. pic.twitter.com/QbVbhTcdDU

– Canadian Football Players (@PlayersCanadian) February 10, 2023

The interview came after the Canadian women's and men's teams each released statements complaining about the budget cuts for the women's team by the Canadian Football Association and demanded answers from the federation.

“some of us We practiced today with our shirts inside outbut since we have not heard from the federation since we presented our demands, they did not even have the courtesy to contact us to schedule an emergency call, as a team we decided to take action union” Sinclair said.

“From now on, we will not participate in any Canadian Football Association activities until this issue is resolved, whether in training or matches. It is very difficult to say that as as an athlete who wants to compete, who wants to represent Canada, but enough is enough.“, he stated.

For her part, Beckie, a former Manchester City striker, insisted that the players will not move until everything is resolved. “From now on we will no longer train, we will not attend concentrations. We will not participate in any planned activities with the national team in the near future. If we arrive next Thursday afternoon and this does not happen is not resolved, we will not take the field against the United States at the SheBelieves Cup“, he stressed.

According to the press release, the Canadian Soccer Association has reduced the time spent in concentrationsjust like him number of invited players and staff for them. They were also informed that there will be no friendly matches at home ahead of the World Cup, which begins in Australia and New Zealand in July.

Hmmmmmm pic.twitter.com/hIgyRuuWfz

–Christine Sinclair (@sincy12) February 10, 2023

“We are tired, tired of constantly having to fight for fair and equitable treatment and for a program that gives us the opportunity to achieve what we know this team is capable of achieving for Canada. This lack of support threatens to reverse the progress we have made as a footballing nation and send us back into oblivion. For our team to continue to be strong globally, we need a federation that supports us at the level expected of us: globally.“, they said in a press release.

Furthermore, they emphasize that ““Significant amounts of money and resources have been invested in our men's team to ensure that there are no gaps in their preparation for the 2022 Men's World Cup,” while the women's team is asked to perform without the same support.