Most Women’s National Team Players Earn Less Than $20,000, FIFPRO Research Finds

Two-thirds of women’s national team players earn less than $20,000 annually, according to a new FIFPRO survey that highlights persistent financial insecurity and structural gaps in women’s football.

The global players’ union and affiliated national players’ unions surveyed 407 footballers from 41 countries competing in the UEFA Women’s Euros, Copa America Femenina, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and the OFC Women’s Nations Cup.

About 66 percent of players earn less than $20,000 annually from soccer, and nearly a third of respondents report earning between $0 and $4,999 from soccer. Only a small minority reached higher income groups.

Professional clubs remain the main source of income, followed by payments to national teams, yet one in four players still rely on non-football jobs to make ends meet.

“Financial stability is a cornerstone of any career,” says FIFPRO’s director of women’s football, Alex Culvin. “The data is very clear: most players do not earn enough income to guarantee a secure career within the game.

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“It is a risk to the sustainability of the sport because players will be inclined to leave football prematurely to make ends meet.”

The survey, conducted between August and October, also found that short-term contracts are still common, with 33 percent of players on contracts for a year or less, and 22 percent on no contracts at all.

International competition schedules continue to put pressure on players, with 58 percent saying pre-match rest was insufficient and 57 percent reporting insufficient recovery after matches.

Travel conditions are also a problem: three-quarters of players fly in economy class during tournaments, while only 11 percent fly in premium economy or business.

While FIFPRO noted improvements since its 2022 survey – including increased prize money and player allocation at the Women’s Euros – similar reforms have not been replicated in other confederations.

Culvin said stakeholders must “continue to raise standards to support the increased professionalization of the women’s game.”

Published on December 18, 2025