In a significant move for women’s football, FIFA has unveiled plans for a £200 million fund aimed at supporting the professionalization of the sport. This initiative reflects FIFA’s commitment to advancing women’s football and follows discussions held during a FIFA Council meeting in Jeddah last weekend.
Under the proposed framework, FIFA intends to allocate approximately £25 million annually to clubs involved in the development of professional women players. The newly established Professional Women’s Football Task Force is expected to oversee these payments, with a primary focus on incentivizing and rewarding clubs contributing to the growth of professional players.
The innovative system proposes that all clubs receive financial support from FIFA each time a female player signs her first professional contract before the age of 23, as well as upon making her debut in international competitions.
Notably, prominent Women’s Super League clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester United stand to be significant beneficiaries of this fund, considering their recent commitments to awarding numerous contracts.
FIFA’s augmented financial investment in women’s football comes on the heels of the successful staging of the largest-ever women’s World Cup in Australia last summer. The tournament, which achieved a turnover of £450 million, broke even and showcased the increasing global interest and competitiveness of women’s football.
The core objective of the £200 million funding initiative is to promote the development of young talents and safeguard clubs’ investments, ultimately enhancing the competitive balance within women’s football. These proposals are expected to undergo a vote by the FIFA Council next year, with plans for implementation over an initial eight-year period starting in 2026.