Nearly half of women’s footballers worldwide are contemplating early retirement, primarily due to financial difficulties and mental health challenges, according to a recent report by FIFPRO, the global players’ union. The 2026 FIFPRO Global Employment Report, titled "Working Conditions in Women’s Football," draws on interviews with 800 players from various countries and highlights significant disparities in working conditions amid the sport’s rapid expansion.

The survey reveals that 49 percent of players are considering leaving football sooner than they had planned. Among those, 59 percent cited financial concerns, while 46 percent pointed to psychological stress as key factors influencing their decisions. Despite increased visibility and commercial growth in women’s football, the report stresses that most players do not yet experience professional conditions.

Since FIFPRO’s previous study in 2017, inflation-adjusted average monthly club wages have roughly tripled to $2,601. However, the median wage remains significantly lower, at $1,669, underscoring highly uneven progress across regions and leagues. In some Eastern European countries included in the analysis, average salaries fall below national minimum wage levels. Even in major markets within Western Europe and Asia/Oceania, wages frequently hover near or just above minimum wage thresholds.

Only 56 percent of players surveyed currently hold employment contracts, and less than half say their clubs employ adequate support staff. Pension plans are even less common, available to just 13 percent of respondents. Contract durations have lengthened from an average of 12 months in 2017 to 19 months, while the number of players with agents has increased substantially, rising from 14 percent to 41 percent.

FIFPRO Director of Women’s Football Alex Culvin emphasized that the conditions many players face are precarious and do not align with the professional demands expected of them. She noted that only a small group—about 5 percent of the highest-level players—experience well-established professional environments. For most, the lack of consistent protections, resources, and fair remuneration creates ongoing challenges.

Mental health emerged as another major area of concern, with 57 percent of players reporting struggles in this regard. Half of those affected said they had not received adequate mental health support from their clubs. FIFPRO is urging national leagues to implement enforceable minimum standards covering pay, facilities, staffing, healthcare, and psychological assistance. Currently, only eight of the 30 leagues studied have collective agreements with players represented by unions.

The report also highlights progress in maternity protections since FIFA introduced global minimum standards in 2021. The proportion of players considering leaving football to start a family has fallen from 47 percent in 2017 to 19 percent. Culvin stressed the need for commercial growth in women’s football to be matched by enhanced player protections and support structures, arguing that these elements must advance together to sustain the sport’s development.

“Ambition cannot rest solely on the players themselves,” Culvin said. “Clubs must share that ambition and provide the necessary resources to support it.”