In Australia, women's football team, the Matildas, have struck a historic deal which will see them earn equal pay and entitlements on many key measures. This deal hailed as landmark for gender equality in sport.

Under a new centralized contract system announced by Football Federation Australia (FFA), Matildas stars such as Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter will be paid an equal amount as big-name Socceroos like Aaron Mooy and Mat Ryan. 

They will also be afforded business class flights to international fixtures and tournaments, like the men.

The Matildas are currently ranked 8th in the world while Australia's men's team, the Socceroos, come in 44th. The gender pay gap in football was widely discussed following the Women's World Cup in July.

The breakthrough will be a big boost for America's women footballers, who have filed an equal-pay lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation due to be heard in May next year.

The United States triumphed at the Women's World Cup in France this year with chants of equal pay ringing out after they defeated the Netherlands in the final.