Matildas looking for bigger paydays

Australia's women soccer players should be offered more "attractive conditions" including higher match fees, their union said on Wednesday after the team dumped star-studded Brazil out of the World Cup to reach the quarterfinals.

Members of the women's national team, known as the Matildas, will be paid just $581 US each under their current contract when they take on reigning champion Japan on Saturday in Edmonton, Canada, for a berth in the semifinals.

In contrast, their male counterparts are each paid $6,500 US when they play in the quarterfinals of a comparable tournament, excluding bonuses, according to a separate agreement.