Canadian soccer players back training, but talks continue on new deal

VANCOUVER — Canada's men's soccer team is back to training, but the players say there's still work to be done on reaching a new deal with the sport's national governing body.

A friendly game against Panama was cancelled Sunday after the Canadian athletes refused to play, citing "unnecessarily prolonged" negotiations over a new contract. Training sessions on Friday and Saturday were also scrapped due to the contract dispute.

The players met with senior leaders of Canada Soccer on Sunday night, and the team resumed training at the Vancouver Whitecaps' facility Monday. The group will also train Tuesday before kicking off CONCACAF Nations League play against Curaçao in Vancouver on Thursday.

"(We) will continue the negotiation process, but questions have yet to be answered and actions have yet to be taken," the players said in a statement Monday.

"We move forward in hopes that Canada Soccer will work with us to resolve the situation."

Compensation appears to be a sticking point in the negotiations.

In a statement released Sunday, the players said they're asking for World Cup compensation that includes 40 per cent of prize money and a "comprehensive friends and family package" for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Canada, ranked 38th in the world, clinched a spot in the tournament in March. It's the first time the country will play in the World Cup since 1986.

FIFA announced on April 1 that the total World Cup prize pool will be US$440 million, with the winner taking $42 million. Teams eliminated in the group stage will take home $9 million.

Canada Soccer president Nick Bontis told reporters on Sunday that the organization was offering players 30 per cent of the World Cup winnings.

He said the proposal players have put