Romania’s women’s football system is growing at a strong pace, with participation surging across all levels in recent years. However, behind positive headline figures, structural constraints are limiting the sector’s long-term development.
Data by the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) shows a dramatic expansion at the grassroots level. Participation rose from just 801 players in the 2015/16 season to 110,076 in 2024/25, reflecting sustained investment in entry-level programmes and school-based initiatives.
At organised competitive levels, the system is also scaling. The number of players in youth and senior categories increased from 2,548 in 2020/21 to 11,041 in the 2025/26 season, indicating that the development pathway is expanding beyond entry level.
However, the Federation identifies a clear structural bottleneck in the transition from youth to senior football. The most significant drop-off occurs when players reach adulthood and must make career decisions, with financial precariousness in women’s football pushing many to leave the sport.
This dynamic reflects broader patterns identified in the Centrul Filia study on gender gaps in sport, which highlights persistent barriers to sustained participation beyond grassroots level.
Structural inequalities extend beyond sport
These challenges sit within a wider context of gender inequality. According to the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Romania scores 57 out of 100 in the Gender Equality Index 2025, ranking among the lowest-performing EU countries.
The data point to structural gaps, particularly in decision-making power and economic outcomes. Women remain underrepresented in leadership roles, while income disparities persist, with women effectively working longer to match men’s earnings.
While progress has been recorded, the pace remains slower than the EU average, reinforcing constraints around career sustainability, access to resources and representation.
Funding gap remains a core constraint
Despite improvements in infrastructure, the Federation acknowledges that the gap between women’s and men’s football remains significant across salaries, facilities and access to competitions.
The disparity is particularly evident in economic terms. While men’s football operates with established salary benchmarks, women’s football is still working towards minimum professional conditions, highlighting the absence of stable baseline support.
This finding reinforces conclusions from a 2023 study by the National University of Physical Education and Sport, which identifies financial instability and limited sponsorship as key constraints on the sector’s development.
Representation improving, but uneven
On governance and representation, Romania shows measurable progress. Women now account for 34 per cent of employees within the Federation, with leadership roles in departments such as finance, licensing, marketing and women’s football development.
At the technical level, all women’s teams include at least one female coach holding a UEFA A or B licence, and the Federation has set a target to have female head coaches across all junior teams by 2030.
These developments mark a shift towards more inclusive structures and progress, but they remain part of a broader European pattern of underrepresentation in decision-making roles, particularly in sport governance.
Stereotypes still shape the landscape
Beyond structural constraints, social attitudes continue to influence women’s football in Romania. A national survey found that 75 per cent of respondents believe women cannot perform at the same level as men in sport, while 60 per cent consider football to be exclusively male.
These perceptions are reinforced by limited media visibility, with research showing that women’s football receives minimal coverage and is often framed as secondary. Experts argue that sustainable inclusion requires equal media coverage, stable funding and stronger female leadership to turn the sport into a space for empowerment.
In response, the Federation has introduced targeted initiatives to improve visibility and challenge stereotypes, including school-based programmes such as UEFA Disney PlayMakers, national campaigns like “Female Role Models”, and dedicated conferences and workshops aimed at promoting women’s participation.
Growth meets structural limits
Romania’s women’s football sector is expanding rapidly, supported by federation-led strategies and grassroots initiatives, including participation in projects such as TARGET. However, the data point to a system where growth at entry level is not yet matched by stability at the professional end.
The combination of financial constraints, limited career pathways and persistent stereotypes continues to shape outcomes. As a result, the key challenge is no longer access, but retention and long-term viability.
Without stronger economic foundations and broader cultural shifts, Romania’s rapid participation gains risk falling short of delivering a sustainable and competitive women’s football ecosystem.
Yet with clear strategic targets, growing institutional commitment and rising visibility, the groundwork is increasingly in place to convert this expansion into lasting progress.
[BM]
Source:
www.euractiv.com