According to the New York Times, the players filed the lawsuit at the United States District Court in Los Angeles.

It alleges that the women's team, the current world champions, have been subjected to "institutionalised gender discrimination" by the national governing body.

The filing of the class-action lawsuit comes just three months before the Women's World Cup takes place in France, where the US will bid to retain their title.

It also follows five players filing a federal wage discrimination complaint against US Soccer prior to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

That was filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission three years ago and eventually resulted in a collective bargaining agreement being struck in 2017 following negotiations between players and US Soccer.

Raises in pay and bonuses, as well as better provisions for travel and accommodations, were granted as a result.

The players in the latest lawsuit are hoping to achieve equal pay to the American men's team.

Players on the women's squad, some of the most recognisable women's footballers in the world, believe they should be given the same money as their male counterparts as they have the same job responsibilities.

Some believe their argument is strengthened by the fact the women's side are far more successful than the men's team, which failed to qualify for last year's World Cup in Russia.

The US women's team has long sought parity pay with their men's team and the previous lawsuit led to suggestions they may boycott the Olympic tournament at Rio 2016.

The US eventually participated but were surprisingly beaten on penalties by Sweden in the quarter-finals.