Daily Junction.mobi portalSports · July 8, 2026 · Tom Bennett · 9 min
Women's football has exploded in popularity since 2015, with record attendances, multi-million pound broadcasting deals, and professional leagues across Europe. Here's how the women's game grew, what's driving the boom, and the challenges ahead.
Women's football has undergone a transformation in the past decade, evolving from a niche sport played in front of a few hundred fans to a mainstream spectacle that fills 90,000-seat stadiums and attracts billions of global viewers. The 2022 Women's Euros final at Wembley drew 87,192 fans (a European championship record for any gender), while the 2023 Women's World Cup generated 2 billion viewers worldwide. The Women's Super League (WSL) in England has seen average attendances increase sixfold since 2015, broadcasting deals grow from zero to millions, and player salaries rise from part-time wages to six-figure contracts. But the growth has been uneven — most clubs still operate at a loss, pay gaps remain vast, and infrastructure lags decades behind the men's game. Here is everything you need to know about the women's football boom — how it happened, what is driving it, and whether the growth is sustainable.
Women's Super League (WSL) average attendance has grown dramatically:
The biggest clubs regularly sell out large stadiums:
For comparison, the Championship (men's second tier) averages 20,000 per match, while League One (men's third tier) averages 8,000 per match. The WSL is now comparable to mid-tier men's leagues in attendance.
WSL broadcasting rights have grown from £0 (free-to-air only) in 2018 to £8 million per year in the 2024-27 deal with Sky Sports and BBC. This is still only 0.5% of the men's Premier League deal (£1.67 billion per year), but it represents a significant milestone — the first time the WSL has generated substantial broadcasting revenue.
International broadcasting rights are also growing. The 2023 Women's World Cup was broadcast in 200+ countries, with the final (Spain vs England) watched by 75 million viewers globally (compared to 1.1 billion for the men's 2022 World Cup final).
Grassroots participation in women's football in England has increased 60% from 2015 to 2024:
The FA (Football Association) has set a target of 5 million participants by 2030, supported by £50 million in grassroots investment.
The average WSL player salary is £47,000 per year (2023-24), compared to £3.1 million for Premier League players. However, top players earn significantly more:
For comparison, the average Championship (men's second tier) player earns £300,000 per year, meaning top WSL players earn more than mid-tier men's players.
England's Lionesses won the 2022 Women's Euros, defeating Germany 2-1 in front of 87,192 fans at Wembley. This was England's first major tournament win since the men's 1966 World Cup, and it captured the nation's attention.
The final was watched by 17.4 million viewers on BBC (peak audience), making it the most-watched women's football match in UK history. The victory sparked a surge in grassroots participation, with the FA reporting a 50% increase in girls' football registrations in the six months following the tournament.
England followed this by reaching the 2023 World Cup final, losing 1-0 to Spain. The final was watched by 12 million UK viewers, and the tournament generated 2 billion global viewers (a record for women's football).
All 20 Premier League clubs now have women's teams (up from 12 in 2018), and many have invested heavily in infrastructure, coaching, and player recruitment.
Examples of investment:
This investment has raised the standard of play and attracted top international players to the WSL.
The BBC and ITV have broadcast England women's matches and WSL highlights for free since 2018, exposing millions of viewers to the women's game. This is in contrast to the men's Premier League, which is behind a paywall (Sky Sports, TNT Sports).
Free-to-air broadcasting has been crucial for building a fanbase, particularly among younger audiences. A survey by the FA in 2024 found that 60% of WSL fans are under 35, compared to 40% for the Premier League.
Younger generations see women's football as normal, not a novelty. A survey by YouGov in 2024 found that 72% of 18-34 year olds support equal investment in men's and women's football, compared to 45% of over-55s.
This cultural shift has been driven by:
The WSL generated approximately £50 million in total revenue in 2023-24, according to analysis by Deloitte. This includes:
For comparison, the Premier League generated £6.1 billion in 2022-23, meaning the WSL is 0.8% of the men's league.
The WSL's total costs are estimated at £70-80 million per year, including:
This means the WSL operates at a loss of £20-30 million per year, subsidised by Premier League clubs and owners.
Most WSL clubs are not profitable, but some are close to breaking even:
Smaller clubs (e.g., Brighton, Leicester) lose £2-3 million per year.
The league is projected to break even by 2030 if current growth continues, driven by:
Despite the growth, women's football faces significant challenges:
The pay gap between men's and women's football remains vast. The average WSL player earns £47,000 per year, compared to £3.1 million for Premier League players (a 66x difference).
This gap is driven by:
Some argue the pay gap is justified by revenue differences, while others argue women players should be paid equally for equal work. The debate is ongoing.
Most WSL clubs do not have dedicated stadiums and share facilities with men's teams. This creates logistical challenges:
The FA has invested £50 million in grassroots infrastructure (pitches, changing rooms) since 2020, but the gap remains significant.
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