In brief
Global research by player‑union Fifpro finds that while the women's game is projected to surpass $1 bn in revenue by 2027, the majority of professional players are still paid below a living wage. Employees of top‑tier clubs report short, often unpaid, contracts and only a third of them receive full‑season pay. Mental‑health stress and lack of club‑level support are cited by over 50 % of respondents as reasons to leave early. The figure, known for involving active unions’ research, underlines a mismatch between commercial success and player welfare.
The women's football ecosystem is on a trajectory to exceed a billion dollars in revenue within the next few years, but a newly‑published global survey by the players’ union Fifpro reveals that a flood of burgeoning fans and sponsors has not yet translated into commensurate gains for the players themselves.
More than 800 professional female footballers were asked why they would consider leaving the sport early. The findings show that 59% cited financial concerns as a key driver, while 46% identified psychological stress – a figure that indicates a serious mental‑health gap that clubs are often ill‑prepared to address.
Alex Culvin, head of women’s football at Fifpro, warned that the bright lens of media visibility and transfer fees can obscure the daily realities of many players, who often work on short contracts, face late or incomplete payments and are still negotiating their first fully written agreements.
Players Don't See Themselves as Professionals
While 62% of respondents identified as professional under FIFA’s definition, only 78% said they have a written contract and 82% reported receiving pay from their club each season. Even then, 57% of those paid find that the income does not cover the costs of playing, meaning many are effectively underpaid.
Average monthly earnings have tripled since 2017 – rising to $2,601 (1,970 pounds) on average – but the median salary remains a mere $1,669 (1,250 pounds). The disparity between mean and median highlights that high‑earning stars skew the overall figures.
Short‑Term Contracts and Late Payments
Typical contract lengths today hover around 19 months, yet two‑thirds of players are not guaranteed full‑season pay; 24% have experienced late payments over the last two seasons and 42% lack pension provisions entirely.
The stark gulf between commercial growth and player protection was echoed during a recent comment by Culvin, who called for a “wake‑up call” to synchronize economic success with comprehensive welfare safeguards.
Not all developments are negative; the introduction of maternity regulations by FIFA in 2021 has seen the proportion of women leaving the game due to family planning drop from nearly half in 2017 to 19% today, underscoring the impact of targeted regulatory intervention.
Yet, while elite clubs thrive on high‑profile sponsorships, “the rest of the industry is still 95% of players who are paid on time,” said Culvin, urging stakeholders to “ensure that player protection goes hand in hand with commercial expansion.”
She concluded that a future where the voice of the player sits firmly at the table, rather than at the ready‑made decision of clubs and leagues, is not just desirable but essential for a sustainable and inclusive sport.
