FIFA report reveals gender pay gap and growth Challenges in women's football

The latest FIFA report on women's football has revealed that the average annual salary for a female professional soccer player globally is just $10,900, a figure significantly influenced by a small number of elite clubs. The “Setting the Pace, FIFA Benchmarking Report on Women’s Football,” released on Monday, highlights disparities in wages, contract lengths, and attendance across different tiers of the game.

Among the 41 top-tier clubs across 16 countries, the average salary stood at approximately $24,030, with 16 of those teams paying players an average of over $50,000. The highest reported salary in this category was around $120,000. In contrast, players at Tier 2 and Tier 3 clubs earned significantly less, with average annual salaries of $4,361 and $2,805, respectively.

The report emphasized the need for more financial stability in women's football, stating, "There is a need for players of a certain standard to earn a reliable and sufficient income solely from playing, reducing their dependence on secondary sources of income and allowing them to dedicate the time required to play at a higher level."

Related Article: Why Do Most Female Players Get Shorter Contract Periods?

Contract lengths also varied, with Tier 1 clubs offering the longest deals, typically ranging from one to three years. Salaries were highest for contracts lasting two to three years, while Tier 3 clubs were more likely to offer short-term deals under three months. "A longer contract enables players to commit to a club and a location, giving them more stability so they can focus on their footballing careers," the report noted.

Attendance Challenges and Growth Potential

While the women’s game has seen record-breaking crowds, average attendance figures remain an area of concern. Arsenal set a Women's Super League record by hosting Manchester United in front of 60,160 fans at the Emirates Stadium last year, but across Tier 1 teams, the average attendance was 1,713. That number dropped to 480 for Tier 2 clubs and 380 for those in Tier 3.

Arsenal was among the 23% of clubs that utilized a secondary stadium, playing five home matches at the Emirates while hosting the rest at Meadow Park, which has a seating capacity of just 1,700. "For clubs in Tier 1, the average attendance at the other stadium was typically double that at the regular stadium, indicating that the sport has the ability to attract larger audiences on occasion," the report stated.

Coaching and Gender Representation

Women remain underrepresented in coaching roles, with only 22% of head coaches across all tiers being female. However, gender equity is more balanced among match officials, with women making up 42% of referees, ranging from 57% in Tier 1 leagues to 25% in the lower tiers.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino stressed the importance of the report in helping clubs and leagues drive progress. "The strides made in recent years have been remarkable, but there is still more work to be done to unlock its full potential," he said.

The study was based on responses from 677 clubs across 90 leagues, with FIFA categorizing tiers based on factors such as league structure, licensing systems, and the number of players who featured in the 2023 Women's World Cup. As the women's game continues to grow, the report underscores the need for greater investment, financial security, and infrastructure to support long-term development.

SportsLigue