Almost half of the female players surveyed by the global players’ union Fifpro are considering leaving football earlier than planned, according to a new report that sets out the financial and psychological pressures facing much of the women’s game. The 2026 Fifpro global employment report, Working Conditions in Women’s Football, was described by the union as the most extensive review of working conditions in women’s football in a decade. It interviewed 800 players and found that 49% were considering retiring early.
Among those considering an early exit, 59% cited their financial situation as a reason and 46% pointed to psychological stress. Fifpro’s director of women’s football, Alex Culvin, said the industry had come a long way, but added that for 95% of players there was “a hell of a long way to go”.
The report points to uneven growth in pay. Inflation-adjusted average monthly club wages have tripled since Fifpro’s previous global study in 2017, reaching $2,601 (£1,966). But the median is substantially lower at $1,669 (£1,261), which the report describes as illustrating “uneven and fragmented” growth. In 10 eastern European countries analysed, average salaries remain below the national minimum wage. Even in western Europe and Asia/Oceania, which include some of the game’s bigger markets, average pay is not significantly higher than national minimum wages.
Working conditions also vary widely. The report found that 56% of players have an employment contract, 13% receive a club pension, and 47% said their clubs did not have sufficient staff. Average contract length has risen from 12 months in 2017 to 19 months, while the proportion of players with agents has climbed sharply from 14% to 41%.
Culvin described a recurring theme of precarity and fragile conditions. She said this applied not only to treatment and fair remuneration but also to the expectations placed on players, whose professional demands do not operate in professional circumstances because the conditions provided to them are suboptimal.
Mental health emerged as another significant concern. Fifty-seven per cent of players said they had struggled with their mental health, and half of those players said their clubs had not provided support. Fifpro wants psychological support to be mandatory.
Fifpro is calling for enforceable minimum standards on pay, facilities, staffing and healthcare to be written into employment agreements at national level. Only eight of the 30 national women’s leagues analysed have a collective agreement with players through their unions. The report also notes clear progress on maternity protection: since Fifa introduced global minimum maternity standards in 2021, the proportion of players considering leaving football to have a family has fallen to 19%, compared with 47% in 2017.