Women's football: professional opportunities, leagues and specific regulations
Women's football is experiencing its greatest growth in history. The income of the 15 richest women's clubs in the world reached€158 millionin the 2024/25 season — a growth of 35% compared to the previous year. Agent commissions in women's soccer doubled in a single year (from USD 3.1 M to USD 6.2 M). Disney+ bought the exclusive rights to the Women's Champions League until 2030. Netflix acquired the rights to the 2027 and 2031 Women's World Cup in the United States. And according to Nielsen Sports, women's soccer will enter thetop 5 global sportsby 2030 with more than 800 million fans.
For players, coaches and agents, this is not just a trend — it is a window of opportunity that is opening now and that will not last forever under these conditions. Those who position themselves today have a huge competitive advantage.
- The state of women's football in 2026: key numbers
- The main professional leagues by region
- Salaries: where you earn the most and how much
- Specific FIFA regulations for female players
- Opportunities for agents in women's football
- University scholarships: the female advantage
- How to start your professional career as a player
The state of women's football in 2026: key numbers
Combined income of the 15 richest women's clubs (2024/25, Deloitte)
Agent commissions in international women's transfers (2025, FIFA)
Women's leagues analyzed by FIFA in its 2025 reference report, with 669 clubs
Projected global fans by 2030 (Nielsen Sports)
The main professional leagues
| League | Country | Minimum / average salary | Key information |
|---|---|---|---|
| NWSL | USA | Minimum USD 48,500. Average USD 60,000-120,000. Top: USD 2M+/year | 16 teams in 2026. The best paying league in the world. CBA with minimum salary, free agency and health insurance. |
| WSL | England | Minimum £40,000 (from 2025). Top: £200,000+/year | Revenue growth of 34% annually. Independent management since 2024 (WPLL). TV rights with BBC/Sky. |
| League F | Spain | Variable. FC Barcelona Femení leads with €17.1 M in revenue. | TV rights with DAZN (€7M/year). Spain world champions 2023. Registered players: 67,000+ (49% growth in 7 years). |
| Frauen-Bundesliga | Germany | Variable. Professionalization underway. | From 2026, it will operate as an independent company with €100M investment in 8 years (DFB). |
| Serie A Femminile | Italy | Variable. Accelerated growth of sponsorships. | Highest sponsorship growth between 2022/23 and 2025/26 of all European leagues (Ampere Analysis). |
| A-League Women | Australia | Minimum ~AUD 26,500. | Post-World Cup 2023 momentum. The Matildas generated a halo effect in the domestic league. |
Specific FIFA regulations for female players
The RETJ (July 2025) contains a specific protection framework for female players that is one of the most advanced in world professional sport. If you are a player, these are yourrights:
Pregnancy and maternity (art. 18quater of the RETJ)
Your contract cannot depend on pregnancy.The club cannot give you a pregnancy test or condition the validity of your contract to whether or not you are pregnant. If you are terminated for being pregnant, it is termination without just cause: the club owes you compensation (residual value of the contract + 6 months of additional salary) and is prohibited from registering players for 2 consecutive periods.
If you become pregnant during your contract,you have the right to continue playing and training if you wish (the club must develop a safe plan), to receive your full salary until you begin leave, and to decide when maternity leave begins.
Paid leave (art. 18, section 7 of the RETJ)
- Maternity leave:14 weeks at 2/3 of salary (8 weeks must be after childbirth)
- Adoption leave:2 to 8 weeks depending on the age of the child (at 2/3 of the salary)
- Parental leave (non-biological mothers):8 weeks at 2/3 of salary
- Reinstatement:Right to return with full salary. The club must provide a postpartum plan and medical support.
Menstrual health (art. 18quinquies of the RETJ)
Right to be absent from training or matches for reasons of menstrual health, with a medical certificate, and receiving full salary.
Opportunities for agents
Women's soccer is the fastest growing segment for soccer agents. According to theFIFA Agents Report 2025:
- Commissions doubled in one year (USD 3.1 M → USD 6.2 M) and are 13 times higher than in 2020
- Only the14% of playersin American college soccer are international (vs. 33% in men's) — there is a lot of room for agents to connect players withscholarships in the USA
- US agents participated in75 international transfersof female players in 2025, only behind the United Kingdom
- The demand for professional representation for female players is growing faster than the supply of specialized agents
If you are an agent and want to position yourself in a market with less competition and more growth, women's football is the clearest opportunity of the moment. Read our guide onhow to get first clients.
University scholarships: the female advantage
Women's college soccer in the US offersmore opportunitiesthan the masculine:
- There are some300 more universitieswith women's teams than men's
- Female D1 programs can offer up to14 scholarshipsper team
- Only 14% of the players in NCAA are international — there is much less competition than in the men's
- The demand for international players is growing because there is a lack of local talent in many positions
For players from South America, Europe or Africa, combining a university career with competitive soccer in the US is one of the best investments possible. Read thecomplete guide to sports scholarships.
New competitions: Women's Club World Cup
FIFA announced the launch of a competition between the6 continental championsin January 2026, as an advance payment of aLarge-scale Women's Club World Cupwhich will be launched in 2028. This creates new economic incentives for clubs, more visibility for players, and a competitive ecosystem that did not exist before.
How to start your professional career as a player
- Play at the highest level available.Local league, provincial team, professional club academy. Each level jump increases your visibility.
- Create your professional profile. Sporty CV, highlights video, and profile inFootball CV. A scout or agent who finds you online is just as valuable as one who sees you in person.
- Research scholarships in the US.If you are between 16 and 22 years old, the American university system is one of the best routes to combine education and high-level football.
- Look for a specialized agent.Agents who focus on women's soccer have fewer clients and more dedication. Check that they havecurrent FIFA license.
- Know your rights.FIFA's regulatory protection for female players is strong — but it only works if you know it and enforce it. Read the article aboutfootball player rights.
- Considers emerging markets.Leagues such as the WSL, F-League, Serie A Femminile and A-League Women are growing fast and looking for international talent. Don't limit yourself to your local league.
Related articles
- Soccer player rights: everything the club is not going to tell you
- Salaries in professional football by league and level
- Soccer sports scholarships in the United States
- How to get a football agent: guide for players
- The agent market in numbers: statistics 2025-2026
- Playing football abroad: country-by-country guide
This guide is based on the RETJ (July 2025, arts. 18, 18quater, 18quinquies), the FIFA Agent Report 2025, the FIFA Women's Football Benchmark Report (March 2025), Deloitte Football Money League 2026 (women's edition, January 2026), Nielsen Sports, Ampere Analysis, ESPN, Sports Business Institute Barcelona, Sporting Goods Intelligence, and the FIFA regulatory framework for players and coaches (July 2024). This guidance is informative and does not replace the advice of a specialized professional.
If you are building your career in women's football,create your profile in Futbol CV—make your talent visible to clubs, agents and scouts around the world.