Women’s Player Summit: Footballers unite around the future of the women's game

• The Women's Player Summit provides an opportunity for FIFPRO to get direct feedback from players from around the globe on numerous issues that affect their club and international careers
• The two-day event encouraged open dialogue on topics ranging from collective bargaining agreements and employment standards to maternity protections, women’s health and the international match calendar
• The collaborative sessions allowed players to exchange perspectives and contribute directly to FIFPRO’s ongoing advocacy work in these areas

Seventeen professional footballers from around the world gathered in Oslo, Norway, for the 2026 FIFPRO Women’s Player Summit, where discussions centred on the future of women’s football and the industry issues impacting players globally.

Held on 22-23 May ahead of the UEFA Women’s Champions League final, the annual summit provides an important opportunity for players to exchange experiences, engage directly with FIFPRO experts and contribute to conversations shaping the women’s game.

The two-day event brought together player representatives in an environment designed to encourage collaboration, education and open dialogue on topics ranging from collective bargaining agreements and employment standards to maternity protections, women’s health and the international match calendar.

"Bringing players together from different leagues, nations and experiences is incredibly valuable," said Dr Alex Culvin, FIFPRO’s Director of Women’s Football. "The summit creates a space where players can learn from each other, reflect on the realities of the game in different parts of the world and help shape the priorities that will drive progress across women’s football.

"From FIFPRO’s perspective, we’ve got two important moments coming up in women’s football in the next couple of years: the consultation of the women’s international match calendar and the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Player feedback is integral to the work we want to do around both of those milestones."

Global employment standards and collective bargaining in focus

The first day of the summit featured an update on FIFPRO’s Global Employment Report delivered by Frankie Brown, former Scotland international and FIFPRO’s Head of Research and Strategy for Women’s Football. The session explored ongoing trends in the professionalisation of women’s football and highlighted the disparities that still exist across leagues and national team environments.

Players then participated in breakout discussions before taking part in a collective bargaining agreement workshop led by Dr Culvin and FIFPRO’s Director of Legal Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud. The workshop focused on how player unions and footballers can strengthen labour protections and improve working conditions through collective action and social dialogue.

The sessions encouraged players to share experiences from their domestic leagues and national teams, while also identifying common challenges and opportunities for greater collaboration between players and unions globally.

Strategic priorities for women’s football

Day two focused on strategic priorities shaping the future of women’s football. Players engaged in discussions around the 2027 Women’s World Cup and provided feedback on the evolving international landscape of the women’s game, including competition structures and player welfare considerations.

Maternity regulations and women-specific health protections also formed a central part of the summit agenda. Gomez Bruinewoud and Brown presented updates on the latest developments relating to maternity rights, assisted reproduction and women’s health initiatives in professional football.

Attendees later joined roundtable discussions examining key strategic priorities, including:

• Maternity regulations and assisted reproduction
• Post-career planning
• Women’s health
• The women’s international match calendar

The collaborative sessions allowed players to exchange perspectives and contribute directly to FIFPRO’s ongoing advocacy work in these areas. The summit concluded with a final open-floor discussion and a gathering of players ahead of the UEFA Women’s Champions League final festivities in Oslo.

What the players said

Lucy Bronze (Chelsea/England)

"I’ve enjoyed connecting with players from around the world. I usually play with people who come from similar environments to me, so hearing stories and perspectives from different countries and continents has been valuable. It gives me a much better understanding – not just from what I see or hear about, but from listening to people’s lived experiences directly."

Ana Lucia Martinez (Cruz Azul/Guatemala)

"Being around other professional players is important because you learn from their experiences. Sometimes we don’t fully know the background or history of women’s football, so having those conversations is valuable."

Elena Linari (London City/Italy)

"I think this is the beauty of football and the beauty of FIFPRO. You bring together players from all around the world to find one voice – or sometimes many voices and ideas. It’s valuable because you can brainstorm, learn from other people’s experiences, and understand the steps your country, clubs or organisations still need to take to reduce the gap. That exchange is always important."

Daphne Corboz (Paris FC/France)

"The exercise we did today on building a union – and having to choose between different services – was valuable. It was a great way to work through those decisions together as a group."