FIFA officially launched the Female Health and Performance Project on June 1, 2026, in Manchester, England, aiming to enhance the health, well-being, and performance of female football players worldwide [1, 2]. The online platform offers 30 educational modules covering 13 key topics including sleep, nutrition, strength conditioning, menstrual health, pregnancy, postpartum return, and menopause [1, 2].
The program targets young players, parents, coaches, medical staff, and all 211 FIFA member associations to provide science-based training tailored specifically to female physiology and health needs [1, 2]. FIFA's Chief Women's Football Officer, Sarai Bareman, said, "FIFA's aim is to optimise every female footballer's health, well-being and performance, and to improve knowledge around women and girls in football at every level of the game." [1]
A recent study from 2014 to 2020 highlighted a lack of research focused on female athletes: just 34% of sports science study participants were women, and only 6% of studies concentrated exclusively on female subjects [1, 2]. The initiative seeks to address this gap by providing targeted education and resources.
The project builds on pilot programs delivered to 10 national teams ahead of the expanded 32-team 2023 Women's World Cup [1, 2]. Bareman added, "Collectively, we can do so much more to better support our growing number of female players and ensure they are trained, supported and understood according to their specific needs as women." [2]
The next major milestone is the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil, when FIFA aims to ensure wider access to female-specific research and training globally [1, 2].