North Carolina Courage and Brazilian midfielder Debinha Miri has said the country’s equal pay announcement will have a ‘huge impact’ upon the women’s game in Brazil.

Earlier this month the Brazil Football Confederation revealed both their men’s and women’s players would be paid the same and Debinha spoker exclusively to NewsChain about the affect this will have on young players in Brazil.

She said: "I think it's going to have a big impact, I think not just for us who are playing for the national team, but for young players who would like to play for the national team.

"I'm sure that's going to change for them and make them want it more and more and make them work harder. I think it's going to have a huge impact in Brazil.

"I was very happy with that surprise, with that news, nobody expected that. I feel it is a new step in the right direction so we are going to keep working and get our spot.

“It was a big win, I was very happy and I’m sure every girl in the national team was too.”

The 28 year-old, whose full name is Débora Cristiane de Oliveira, added equal pay is something the national team have been speaking about for a while.

"I haven't spoken to anybody but I'm sure everybody is very happy about that and excited. I think it is one thing we always fought for, every day we go to training it's what we wanted to happen in Brazil and now it’s happening.

“We want to enjoy the moment and make sure what they are doing is going to pay off.”

She may play against Marta Vieira da Silva, one of her Brazilian team-mates, this weekend in the National Women’s Soccer League Fall Series as Courage take on Orlando Pride.

Debinha added she’s excited to see Pride back on the pitch as they have not played since last year after they withdrew from the Challenge Cup this summer.

“I’m very excited because I'm excited to see Orlando play again and of course playing against Marta is always fun,” she said.

“After the first game [against Houston Dash last weekend] we saw that we need to get better and fix some stuff, this week we are focusing on what needs to get better and prepare for Orlando, I'm sure it's going to be fun!”

Courage are heading into the match off the back of a win after they beat Houston Dash 4-3 last weekend.

Debinha scored two goals, including the winner, in the match which was aired on US TV channel CBS and saw an average audience of 370,000.

She has said TV and media coverage is key to growing the league.

"This league is already a big deal in the world but I think as much space as the TV can give to us [will mean] the league is going to grow and grow and grow.

"That's very important for the players, for the league and for women's soccer.

“As much space as the media can give us, inside and outside the game, is going to improve it [women’s soccer] a lot. I think [media coverage] it's getting better but I think that what we want to see is more games, more goals to be played on TV.”

The NWSL’s Fall Series has seen less of the league’s stars as many have left, mostly on loan deals to Europe, due to the uncertainty surrounding the US league amid the pandemic.

An example is Courage’s Denise O’Sullivan who is currently playing in the Women’s Super League for club Brighton and Hove Albion, though her deal only runs to the end of December.

Debinha has said the loan deals will benefit both the players and the NWSL.

"I think this year is a special year, we know it's difficult, so some players who didn't play the Challenge Cup they opted to go to Europe to get some games.

“I feel like for them it's good and for the league it's also good because players that weren’t playing that much can now play and enjoy their opportunity [abroad].”

North Carolina Courage v Orlando Pride will kick off at 1pm EST on September 19 and is available to watch on CBS and Twitch.