U.S. government funding for the 2026 World Cup would be denied until the U.S. Soccer Federation provides equal pay for women's and men's teams under a bill introduced Tuesday. 

Democrat Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia submitted the bill to U.S. lawmakers two days after the American women won a second consecutive Women's World Cup title, after defeating the Netherlands 2-0 in France. 

Manchin said he introduced the bill after receiving a letter from West Virginia University women's soccer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown pleading the case for the U.S. women's equal pay. 

"That's just plain wrong," Manchin said of the pay inequality. 

"The clear unequitable pay between the U.S. men's and women's soccer teams is unacceptable and I'm glad the U.S. Women's Soccer Team latest victory is causing public outcry." 

"They are the best in the world and deserve to be paid accordingly," added Manchin. 

In the stadium, fans chanted "Equal pay, equal pay," after the victory. The squad filed a lawsuit against U.S. Soccer Federation in March over pay equity and equal working conditions.

The U.S. men's team has far worse results, having lost to Mexico on Sunday in the Gold Cup final among CONCACAF (North American) nations. They also failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia last year. 

The Senate and House of Representatives would have to vote in favor of the measure and U.S. President Donald Trump, who has exchanged barbs on Twitter with U.S. women's star Megan Rapinoe, would have to sign the bill or have a veto overridden to turn the measure into binding law. 

The United States will co-host the 2026 World Cup tournament along with neighbors Mexico and Canada. 

(With input from AFP and Reuters)