In brief
The world’s top female footballers are on the brink of a billion‑dollar industry, but a new FIFPro survey of 800 players reveals that 59% leave early for money and 46% for psychological stress. While revenue is projected to leap from $581m in 2024 to over $1bn in 2027, only 57% of players feel their salaries cover their costs, and 24% report late payments. Short contracts, a lack of pension plans, and limited mental‑health support are straining players, even as maternity regulations improve. The report calls for urgent policy action to match commercial growth with player welfare.
A new global survey by the players’ union FIFPro finds that, even as women’s soccer is on track to become a billion‑dollar industry by 2027, many professional players still face low wages, short contracts, and mounting mental stress.
The study polled over 800 elite players. 59% cited financial reasons as the main cause for leaving early, while 46% pointed to psychological strain. More than half of respondents—57%—report that their salaries do not cover the direct costs of playing.
Revenue for the women’s game is set to rise from about $581 million (£439 million) in 2024 to over $1 billion (£756 million) in 2027. Yet the distribution is uneven: North America averages $6,450 (£4,886) per month, while Eastern Europe sits at $878 (£664) and Africa at just $480 (£363).
Contract lengths have increased from an average of one year in 2017 to 19 months, but many players still receive pay for less than a full season. The report notes that 24% experienced late payments over the past two years and 42% lack any pension scheme.
Alex Culvin, head of women’s football at FIFPro, warned that the “economic boom masks the day‑to‑day realities” faced by most players. “The industry needs to grow hand‑in‑hand with player protection,” she said.
While maternity regulations introduced by FIFA in 2021 have halved the proportion of players considering leaving for family reasons—from nearly half in 2017 to 19% now—significant disparities remain. Only 78% of surveyed players have a written contract, and a mere 57% feel that their earnings cover the cost of playing competitively.
The survey also highlighted that a majority of players do not view themselves as fully professional despite meeting FIFA’s criteria. “Players who consider themselves professional but do not feel that sense of protection miss out on employee benefits,” Culvin said.
The final call from FIFPro is that commercial growth should not come at the expense of player welfare. “A 'wake‑up call' is needed for the ecosystem,” Culvin said, urging regulators to give players a seat at the table where decisions about their careers are made.
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