FIFPRO Unveils Workload Challenges in Women's Soccer

Women’s soccer is grappling with an escalating dilemma that jeopardizes players' health and growth around the globe. A recent report by FIFPRO delves into the workload imbalance faced by female athletes, indicating that elite players encounter excessive schedules while others experience insufficient competitive exposure, which raises injury concerns on both sides.

Prominent female soccer players now manage an increasing number of fixtures for clubs and national teams, often without adequate recovery periods in between. This growing workload, fueled by escalating interest in the sport and enhanced competitions, is pushing top athletes to their physical and psychological boundaries. Alex Culvin, FIFPRO’s director for women’s football, noted that while high-profile athletes attract audiences, they do not receive the same levels of support that their male counterparts enjoy, including charter flights, specialized nutritionists, dedicated physiotherapists, and state-of-the-art training facilities.

Simultaneously, the report highlights a concerning issue of “underload,” where athletes in domestic leagues with fewer matches face a greater risk of injury. Research indicates that participating in fewer than 25 matches in a season can make players more susceptible to injuries due to inadequate match fitness and conditioning. Spain international and Chicago Stars player, Maitane Lopez, pointed out that young athletes lacking sufficient competitive time struggle to fully develop, thereby exacerbating disparities between top and lower-tier players.

FIFPRO’s findings underscore significant differences even within elite European leagues. In France and Germany, top players in the top divisions average only around 14 matches across all competitions, equating to about one-and-a-half games monthly. Similarly, in England’s Women’s Super League, a full-time player at Arsenal can see 13 additional matches compared to a counterpart at second-tier Crystal Palace. This discrepancy leads to missed national team opportunities and stunts player development overall.

The issue of overload was epitomized by Aitana Bonmati, Spain’s midfielder and recent Ballon d’Or recipient, who played a staggering 60 matches last season across various domestic, European, and international levels. Her rigorous schedule played a crucial role in helping Barcelona achieve a domestic league and cup double, a runner-up finish in the Champions League, and a spot in the Euros final with Spain. Nevertheless, this relentless pace has taken a toll on her, and she is now expected to undergo around five months of recovery following surgery for a fractured left fibula incurred during a national team training session.

Experts assert that while women’s soccer is experiencing rapid growth, the necessary infrastructure and support systems are lagging behind. The interplay of elite overload with the underload in lower leagues heightens the risks of injury and poses a threat to the long-term development of talent. Lopez stressed that mental well-being is equally crucial and that burnout among female players is an escalating issue, underscoring the pressing necessity for enhanced facilities, recovery methods, and a commitment to player welfare.

As women’s soccer captures unprecedented global attention, resolving workload disparities is essential to ensuring players can excel while minimizing risks and nurturing future talent. Balancing match schedules and investing in comprehensive support frameworks for players are now critical priorities to foster the sustainable growth of women’s soccer worldwide.