Canada’s men’s football team refused to play a match on Sunday against Panama amid strained labour negotiations with the nation’s governing body, as players seek to level match fees and share World Cup prize money with the women’s team.

The game was called off just two hours before it was set to start at Vancouver’s BC Place. The players also refused to train Friday and Saturday as the team prepares for its first World Cup appearance since 1986.

The team issued a statement Sunday amid heated negotiations with Canada Soccer, which come less than a month after the unions for the American men’s and women’s team reached a landmark agreement with US Soccer for equal pay.

‘It’s time we take a stand for the future of soccer in Canada,’ the statement said.

The men said they want 40 per cent of World Cup prize money, a friends and family travel package and an ‘equitable structure with our women’s national team that shares the same player match fees, percentage of prize money earned at our respective FIFA World Cups and the development of a women’s domestic league.’

‘We want to work together with our organization, but the relationship has been strained for years,’ players said in a statement. ‘And now, Canada Soccer has disrespected our team and jeopardised our efforts to raise the standards and effectively advance the game in Canada.’

Alphonso Davies is Canada’s most high-profile player and the Bayern Munich star reportedly earns £113,000-per-week at the German giants. The national captain Atiba Hutchinson is believed to earn £24,000-per-week at Turkish outfit Besiktas.

Chrisine Sinclair is Canada women’s record goalscorer with a staggering 189 goals in 310 games but earns just £5,800-per-week at the Portland Thorns, it is believed.