Continuing the themes of FIFPRO reports on women’s football from the last few years, the data presented in the study shows that a large degree of fragmentation exists across elite professional and international football. Many players are experiencing what we have termed “underload”, where players are afforded a relatively low number of appearances each season. This is a view of the industry that is perhaps often overlooked and unseen: the fragmented spread of games from team to team challenges the potential “readiness” for players to perform on the world stage. It also highlights where important and meaningful reforms can be positively influential.
A World Cup provides the industry with an opportunity to pause and reflect. For women’s football to sustainably flourish in a way that protects and promotes the wellbeing of players, solutions are required to inform decision makers and support player performance and the worldwide development of the game.
