PLAYERS could consider strike action if mandated rest periods are not part of the next women’s international match calendar, a union official has warned.

A report published by world players’ union Fifpro today said there was now a “two-tier ecosystem” in the women’s professional game, where demands on elite players continue to grow while those at lower levels are not seeing enough meaningful action.

The top 15 players in Fifpro’s monitoring database all played in 50 or more matches in the 2024-25 season, the first time that had been the case since monitoring began in 2020-21.

The report found Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati played in 60 matches for club and country, with 57 per cent of those appearances made ‘back to back’ — with fewer than five days in between.

England and Arsenal forward Alessia Russo played 57 matches and had an even higher ‘back-to-back’ percentage than Bonmati – 61 per cent.

Alex Culvin, the director of women’s football at Fifpro, said despite the growing demands, there was still a gulf between the resources focused on the recovery of female players compared to their male counterparts.

The 2026-to-2029 women’s international calendar is now set in stone, but Culvin said the introduction of rest periods could be a pivotal issue for the one which follows, from 2029 to 2031.

“We always say strikes are the last bullet in the gun,” Culvin said.

“What is very evident in the women’s football community is that the players are always aligned, and there’s a high degree of solidarity among the women’s players.

“These are players who have grown up facing discrimination and marginalisation just for wanting to play football, and so advocacy and activism is ingrained in a lot of players.

“If players are not listened to, then of course, we have to take a different course of action. In the next round of consultation, for example, mandated rest periods for us is our primary safeguards for the players.

“In the absence of mandated rest, I think then we speak to the players and say, ‘OK, we once again have not got this over the line. What do you want to do?’

“Having rest periods within the calendar that are untouchable is really important. It will obviously be something that we will be advocating for in the next round of consultations, not because Fifa wants it, but because the players demand it.”

Culvin accepted that it may be difficult to mandate one rest period globally and said the rest periods may have to differ from confederation to confederation.

The underloading of players at the middle and lower levels of the women’s pro game is also a “pervasive issue,” the report finds.

The report recommended the expansion of domestic leagues, the introduction or revamping of domestic cups to help players develop and gain access to tougher, more regular competition.

It also supported expanding the Women’s Euros from 16 to 24 teams.