Women’s Leagues Forum: Driving Professionalization and Growth in Global Women’s Football

The world of women’s professional football is undergoing a significant transformation, marked by increased investment, growing fan bases, and a push for greater professionalization. Central to this evolution is the Women’s Leagues Forum (WLF), a global platform established to unite and empower professional women’s football leagues worldwide. This initiative, operating under the umbrella of the World Leagues Association (WLA), aims to address key challenges and foster collaboration across the sport.

The Establishment of the Women’s Leagues Forum

The Women’s Leagues Forum was formally established in November 2023, following discussions around the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Championship Final in San Diego [1]. It currently connects 16 bodies responsible for women’s national football leagues, representing a diverse range of structures. These include independent professional leagues (USA, Sweden, Spain, Japan, Norway) and leagues integrated with men’s professional structures (Australia, Mexico, Scotland, Belgium, Costa Rica, Panama) [1]. Several federations responsible for their national women’s leagues, including those in England, France, Denmark, and Finland, also participate.

Leadership and Governance

The WLF is guided by a board of eight professional league leaders, co-chaired by Jessica Berman, Commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League (USA), and Annika Gralls, Chair of OBOS Damallsvenskan (Sweden) [1]. Other board members include Mariana Gutiérrez Bernárdez (Liga MX Femenil, Mexico), Haruna Takata (WE League, Japan), Beatriz Álvarez Mesa (Liga F, Spain), Fiona McIntyre (Scottish Women’s Premier League, Scotland), Nick Garcia (A-Leagues, Australia), and Lorin Parys (Pro League, Belgium) [4]. Jean-Michel Aulas, representing the French Women’s League, serves as a co-opted member [4]. Moya Dodd, a former Australian national team player and former FIFA Council member, has been appointed Secretary of the Board and works alongside Jerome Perlemuter, General Secretary of the World Leagues Forum, to steer the WLF’s work [1] and [2].

Key Objectives and Areas of Focus

The Women’s Leagues Forum aims to provide a platform for collaboration, exchange of best practices, business development, and collective advocacy. Key areas of focus include:

• Improving labor conditions for players.
• Addressing challenges related to the calendar, player wellbeing, and fixture congestion.
• Finding common approaches to revenue generation.

Recent Activities and Partnerships

In July 2025, the Women’s Leagues Forum participated in a symposium at the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva, focusing on improving labor conditions and responsible event hosting in women’s sports [2]. Moya Dodd represented the organization at the event, which brought together stakeholders from leagues, players’ unions (FIFPRO), governing bodies, and the ILO. This participation underscores the WLF’s commitment to social dialogue and advancing professionalism in women’s football [2]. The WLF supports ongoing international social dialogue between leagues and players’ unions, as exemplified by the Global Labour Agreement concluded by the World Leagues Association and FIFPRO under the auspices of the ILO [2].

Looking Ahead

The Women’s Leagues Forum is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of women’s professional football. By fostering collaboration, advocating for improved conditions, and driving professionalization, the WLF aims to unlock the full potential of the sport and ensure its continued growth on a global scale.