Women’s football is on track to become a billion-dollar business in the next few years. But behind the glitz of sold-out stadiums and soaring television deals, the athletes actually playing the game are struggling. A major global survey reveals that low wages, brief contracts, and intense mental strain are pushing many to consider quitting early.
The numbers tell a story of two different worlds. Industry projections show global revenues in the women’s game climbing from $581 million in 2024 to more than $1 billion by 2027. Yet, a survey of over 800 top-flight players by the global players’ union, Fifpro, paints a starkly different picture of life on the pitch.
Money remains the biggest headache. Among the players thinking about hanging up their boots ahead of schedule, 59% blamed financial pressure. Another 46% pointed to mental stress. It turns out that playing in a country’s top division does not guarantee a livable wage.
“Players are not only expected to be visible, but are obligated to be visible because of the low income to subsidise the lack of solid income they receive,” says Alex Culvin, Fifpro’s head of women’s football. She explains that players must chase public exposure and personal sponsorships just to make ends meet. The commercial hype, she argues, is hiding a messy reality.
A Mental Health Crisis in Silence
It is not just about the money. The survey found that 57% of players are dealing with mental health issues. Alarmingly, half of those struggling get zero support from their clubs.
Social media makes things worse. While players can connect with fans, they also face constant online abuse. Culvin notes that many players feel completely isolated. “Players also reported, whilst having a higher psychological stress, that they didn’t have the support they needed in a mental health sense, either at the club or internationally,” she says.
The Illusion of Professionalism
Under FIFA rules, a professional player must have a written contract and earn more than the basic expenses they incur playing. In reality, that definition is rarely met. Even though every single player surveyed competes in their nation’s top league, only 78% actually have a contract on paper. Just 82% get paid at all. Even worse, only 57% say their salary actually covers the costs of playing.
This explains why only 62% of these elite athletes call themselves professional. Over a quarter (27%) view themselves as semi-pro, while 12% say they are amateurs.
“Players who are professional but don’t see or feel themselves as professional are not receiving the full benefits of being an employee,” Culvin says.
A Tripling of Salaries With a Catch
On paper, average pay has risen. The mean monthly salary has jumped to $2,601, which is three times what it was in 2017. But that average is heavily skewed by a few wealthy leagues. The median monthly salary, which gives a much more accurate picture of what a typical player earns, is a modest $1,669.
Where you play matters immensely. In North America, players average $6,450 a month. In Central and Western Europe, that figure is $3,982. But in Eastern Europe, average pay plummets to $878, which is actually below the national minimum wage in ten countries. In Africa, players take home an average of just $480 a month.
Paid for Only Part of the Year
Contract lengths have nudged up to an average of 19 months, compared to just 12 months in 2017. Yet financial security is still a luxury.
“Only two-thirds of players are paid for the whole 12 months,” Culvin warns. “There’s a lot of players who are on seven-month contracts, nine-month contracts, which means that they’ve got to work to make up the rest of the calendar year.”
The economic progress is clear, but the rules are not keeping up. Culvin insists that regulations must evolve fast to protect the athletes who are building this billion-dollar industry. “The economic case for women’s football has been made,” she says. “I think the institutional regulatory and policy case needs to catch up quickly to protect and enhance our women’s players and enable them to perform maximally.”