Women's Football Faces Financial Disparity Despite Billion-Dollar Growth
A global survey by players' union Fifpro reveals that while the sport's industry value soars, many professional players struggle with low wages and job insecurity.
Women's football is on track to become a billion-dollar industry, but a significant portion of professional players are experiencing low wages, insecure contracts, and increased psychological stress, according to a new global survey by the players' union Fifpro. The survey, which polled more than 800 footballers, found that 59% cited financial reasons for considering an early exit from the sport. Psychological stress was identified as a factor by 46% of respondents, a sharp rise from 13% in Fifpro's 2017 survey.
Alex Culvin, head of women's football at Fifpro, noted that rising public exposure, financial insecurity, and inadequate support systems likely contribute to the increase in stress. "Players are now very visible," Culvin said, adding that players often feel obligated to maintain a public presence to supplement low incomes. While awareness of mental health issues has improved, many players report feeling unsupported by their clubs or international organizations.
The report highlights a disconnect between players' self-perception and their professional status. While 62% of respondents identified as professional, the survey revealed that only 78% have a written contract and 82% receive payment from their clubs. Crucially, just 57% reported that this payment was sufficient to cover the costs associated with playing football.
Average monthly earnings have tripled since 2017 to $2,601, but the median salary remains much lower at $1,669. Significant regional disparities exist, with average monthly pay reaching $6,450 in North America and $3,982 in central/Western Europe, compared to $878 in Eastern Europe and $480 in Africa. In some Eastern European countries, average pay falls below the national minimum wage.
Contract lengths have also increased to an average of 19 months, but many players still face periods without guaranteed income, as only two-thirds are paid for the full 12 months of the year. This can force players to seek additional work outside of football to compensate for shorter contracts.
Fifpro suggests that the rapid commercial growth of women's football may be masking these ongoing challenges for many players. The report also indicated that 24% of players experienced late payments over the past two seasons, and 42% do not have access to a pension.
Despite these concerns, the survey did find one significant improvement: fewer players cited wanting a family as a reason for leaving the sport. This figure has fallen from nearly half of respondents in 2017 to 19%, a change Fifpro attributes partly to maternity regulations introduced by FIFA in 2021. "Targeted regulatory intervention works," Culvin stated.
Fifpro emphasizes that the solution is not to curb the sport's growth but to ensure that commercial success and player welfare advance together. The union calls for greater player involvement in decision-making processes that affect them, advocating for a more equitable distribution of the sport's burgeoning success.