From Growth to Greatness: A Leading Article on the Professionalisation, Health and Performance Challenges in Women's Football.

The FIFA Women's World Cup AUS & NZL 2023™ marked a pivotal moment in women's football, reflecting unprecedented growth in global attention, revenue and participation. This leading article discusses the transformation in women's football, emphasising the increasing demands on players alongside the sport's professionalisation. To support this transformation, the FIFA Female Health project is introduced, which seeks to address critical health and performance challenges specific to female players by raising awareness, supporting research and developing education initiatives for women's football stakeholders. In this prologue, we examine the rise in physical and tactical requirements, driven by more rigorous match schedules, advanced pressing strategies and extended travel demands. Alongside these challenges, we emphasise the growing need for multidisciplinary support teams to address the unique biopsychosocial needs of female footballers. This article calls for further research, education and investment in player support. By examining the interplay between professionalisation and performance, this special issue aims to provide insights into the critical areas where scientific innovation and collaboration are necessary to ensure player wellbeing and sustained performance in the evolving landscape of women's football.