Megan Rapinoe And Alex Morgan Confirm US Women’s Team Will Appeal Against Equal Pay Defeat

But the players were dealt a major blow last week after US District Judge R Gary Klausner threw out the allegations and ruled they weren't underpaid compared with the men's team.

Speaking on Good Morning America, Orlando Pride striker Morgan confirmed that the US national team "will definitely be appealing" against the verdict.

The 30-year-old US co-captain, who is 41 weeks pregnant, explained: "We were just shocked -- we will definitely be appealing.

"This decision was out of leftfield for us. I think for both sides it was very unexpected.

"If anyone knows anything about the heart of this team, we are fighters and we will continue to fight together for this."

The US players' allegations of discriminatory working conditions against USSF will proceed to trial, despite the equal pay claim being rejected.

The US court said in its judgement: "The WNT [women's national team] has been paid more on both a cumulative and an average per-game basis than the MNT [men's national team] over the class period."

The 34-year-old Ballon d'Or winner said: "If I earn one dollar every time I play and a man earns three dollars, just because I win 10 games and he only wins three games -- and so I make 10 dollars and he made nine dollars -- I'm not sure how that's me making more money."

The US men's team released a statement on Monday and reiterated that it would support the women in their battle for equal pay.

"The USMNT players continue to stand with the WNT players in their efforts to secure equal pay," reads the statement.

"For a year and a half, the USMNT players have made proposals to the Federation that would achieve equal pay for the USMNT and USWNT players."