Despite the global rise in focus on women’s soccer, the majority of players and teams continue to face challenges concerning resources and investment. Recently, FIFA released its comprehensive annual report on the women’s game, shedding light on the widespread disparities existing within the sport.
This fourth edition significantly broadened its analysis, encompassing data from 86 leagues and around 669 teams, a leap from the previous year’s 34 leagues. The extensive review highlighted six critical areas: sporting, governance, financial landscape, fan engagement, data and digital, and player-related matters, providing a deeper understanding of the current state of women’s soccer.
The report categorized leagues into three tiers based on several criteria, including whether they had senior-level competitions, the inclusion of players in major tournaments like the 2023 Women’s World Cup or the Women’s Euros, and the financial allocation of their member associations towards women’s soccer.
One of the stark findings was the average gross salary across these tiers, which stood at $10,900. However, this figure was heavily influenced by 16 clubs in the top tier, where players earned an average of over $50,000. On a global scale, the average salary for top-tier teams was documented at $24,030 — inadequate for a reasonable living standard in numerous regions.
Women’s soccer hasn’t reached profitability yet, as revealed by the figures indicating that top-tier leagues generate average revenues of $4.4 million but incur average expenses of $7.6 million. In contrast, the lowest tier reported an average income of $76,000 while spending about $182,000. However, FIFA did not disclose the identities of the clubs within each tier.
Regarding leadership, only a small portion of surveyed clubs, precisely 22%, have female coaches. Broadcast deal discrepancies were also apparent, as 91% of top-tier leagues secured domestic TV deals compared to just 32% in the bottom tier. Additionally, only 42% of third-tier teams had a title sponsor, a stark contrast to 69% in top-tier leagues.
In a bid to drive further interest and investment in women’s soccer, FIFA announced the initiation of two new international club tournaments — the 2026 Women’s Champions Cup and the 2028 Women’s Club World Cup. Earlier announcements indicated the participation of 19 teams in the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup scheduled for January-February 2028. The soon-to-debut Women’s Champions Cup will feature six continental club champions, commencing in January next year.
These competitions aim to maintain focus on female players outside of traditional World Cup years, with hopes of attracting greater investments. In a statement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino highlighted the organization’s aspirational goals, emphasizing the importance of providing insights and resources to stakeholders. He stressed that these efforts are pivotal in professionalizing women’s football as the sport enters a new global era.
