US women’s coach Emma Hayes sidesteps equal pay question if high-priced star takes over American men

U.S. women’s coach Emma Hayes avoided a question about whether she deserves a salary increase if a high-profile figure like Jürgen Klopp replaces Gregg Berhalter as coach of the American men’s team. Berhalter’s contract runs until the 2026 World Cup, and the U.S. Soccer Federation has not publicly discussed his future since the team’s recent exit from the Copa America.

During a press conference alongside U.S. men’s Olympic coach Marko Mitrović, Hayes emphasized her current focus on preparing for upcoming training camps and the Olympics. She declined to delve into matters concerning the men’s team and gender equity, emphasizing her immediate priority of team preparation.

Hayes, recognized as FIFA’s Best Women’s Coach in 2021, previously managed Chelsea’s women’s team from 2012 to 2024 before joining the U.S. setup earlier this year. The salary disparities between Hayes and her predecessor Vlatko Andonovski, as well as recent USSF commitments to equalize pay between men’s and women’s national team players, have been noteworthy amidst discussions of potential coaching changes, including Klopp’s departure from Liverpool earlier this year.