Women's football is moving towards becoming a billion-dollar industry, but many players still face low pay and uncertain employment. A global survey by the players' union Fifpro involved more than 800 footballers, all playing for clubs in their country's top division. When asked why they might leave football early, 59% mentioned financial reasons and 46% identified psychological stress.
Mental health difficulties affected 57% of respondents, and half of those players received no support from their clubs. Fifpro's head of women's football, Alex Culvin, suggested that greater public attention, money worries and poor support could contribute to stress. Average monthly earnings have tripled since 2017 to $2,601. However, only two-thirds of players receive pay throughout the year, leaving others to find additional work.
One improvement concerns starting a family. This was a possible reason for leaving early for nearly half of respondents in 2017, compared with 19% now. Fifpro partly credits Fifa's maternity rules, introduced in 2021. The union argues that financial growth must come with better protection and support, and that players should help shape decisions affecting their lives.
