In brief
A new Fifpro survey shows that while women's football is expected to generate over $1bn by 2027, many players earn less than £15,000 a year, work under precarious contracts and suffer rising psychological pressure. Between 2017 and 2023, average monthly pay has tripled, but the median wage remains far below many national minimums. The study highlights that 57% of respondents struggle to cover playing costs, 24% have faced late payments, and 42% lack pension coverage. Player advocate Alex Culvin urges urgent reforms to align commercial growth with player welfare, noting improved maternity policies as a positive sign. The report calls for structural changes to guarantee fair pay, contract security and comprehensive mental‑health support across the global game.
In a remarkable shift toward commercial prosperity, the global women’s football market is set to surpass $1 billion by 2027, yet a new survey from the players’ union Fifpro exposes a stark disparity between revenue and player welfare.
More than 800 professional athletes answered questions on wages, contract security and psychological pressure. The findings are telling: 59 % said financial hardship would prompt early retirement, while 46 % identified mental‑health stress as a key factor. “Players are now very visible,” said Alex Culvin, head of women’s football at Fifpro. “It’s not just about the spotlight; their incomes have not matched the visibility, leaving them vulnerable.”
The wage gap remains wide
Only 12 % of respondents reported earnings above £15 k, despite the sport’s commercial boom. Average monthly pay now sits at $2,601 (£1,970), but the median – the true middle ground – is $1,669 (£1,250). Earnings vary sharply by region: North America sees $6,450 (£4,886) per month, while Eastern Europe lags at $878 (£664), and African pay averages just $480 (£363).
“I think there’s a wake‑up call needed for the ecosystem, that our players are suffering and that there is not the kind of wrap‑around support and accountability that's needed for players,” said Culvin.
Contracts and cash flow are fragile
Average contract lengths have climbed from about one year in 2017 to 19 months, but 24 % of players report delayed payments over the last two seasons, and 42 % lack any pension arrangement. “Only two‑thirds are paid for the full 12 months,” Culvin warned.
Mental health takes a hit
The survey found that 57 % of women wrestle with mental‑health challenges, yet half of them received no club‑provided support. Social media exposure has magnified both scrutiny and harassment.
Success stories and steps forward
Progress is seen in maternity regulations. In 2017, 47 % of players considered leaving because of family ambitions – a figure fallen to 19 % after FIFA’s 2021 regulations and subsequent updates. “Targeted regulatory intervention works,” said Culvin.
Yet the bulk of the workforce remains precarious. Culvin summed up: “There doesn’t need to be a choice for those between commercial growth and player protection; the two must go hand in hand.”
