The French women's football championship wants to remain ambitious, despite the crisis in French football

The launch season of the Premier League is coming to an end. The epilogue of the French women's football championship will be confirmed on Friday, May 16, following the final between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais – at the Groupama Stadium, in Décines-Charpieu (Rhône). The French Football Federation (FFF) and the Women's Professional Football League (LFFP) have nevertheless already taken stock on Tuesday, May 13, and outlined optimistic prospects for women's professional football, the day after the announcement of a major reform of the governance of men's professional championships, while the sector is going through a financial crisis, notably due to the fall in revenue from television rights.

A year ago, the FFF dedicated 9 million euros to the creation of the LFFP, with the objective of "making France the best European league for professional women's football." While the championship does not yet rival its powerful English neighbor, the federation is satisfied with its "growth trajectory," announcing investments increased to 14 million euros this season, as part of its five-year commitment plan. In addition, the French chemical giant Arkema has extended its "naming partnership," which has been active for six years, until 2028.

Thus, attendances have increased by "50% in the Premier League" and doubled in the second division, according to the two bodies, represented by the president of the FFF, Philippe Diallo, and that of the LFFP, Jean-Michel Aulas, who also welcome the visibility of the competitions - broadcast by Canal+ until 2029 as well as on the YouTube channel "FFFTV". The first division has gone from an average attendance of a thousand spectators to around 1,500 people , with peaks of more than 20,000 spectators during Paris Saint-Germain matches.

Highlighting an attractive competition format – the play-offs – which “appeals to broadcasters and the media” , the two bodies see their optimism fuelled by the rise to the first division of clubs such as Marseille and Lens, “strongholds of football” , next season.

And a new competition, the Women's League Cup, will be launched next season. The tournament is designed to give clubs not competing in European competitions the opportunity to participate in more matches—those competing in European competitions will only enter at the quarter-final stage. The final of this League Cup—scheduled for March 14, 2026—will be relocated to Abidjan (Ivory Coast), in the vast Alassane Ouattara Stadium, where the LFFP hopes to attract at least 50,000 spectators.

While the authorities are ambitious, the serious financial crisis facing men's professional football, following the nearly 20% drop in broadcasting rights for the 2024-2029 cycle, could seriously harm women's clubs – many of which rely on a men's team. On Monday, Philippe Diallo estimated that "six or seven clubs" in Ligue 1 and 2 were threatened in their survival.

As a result, Le Havre confirmed at the end of April that it was looking for a buyer for its women's section, like Dijon . And the clubs of Montpellier, Reims and Guingamp, all present in the Premier League, are considering following the same path. "Women's football must not be one of the victims of the difficulties of men's professional football," said Jean-Michel Aulas. In this context, the Lyon experience, where the women's section was sold to the American investor Michele Kang, also owner of the Washington Spirit in the American National Women's Soccer League and the London City Lionesses in the English first division, is held up as an example to be followed by the authorities.

"The LFFP must find its economic autonomy as quickly as possible," stressed Philippe Diallo, specifying that his " project to break away " from the organization of men's football could also be transposed to the LFFP and that a club society could also be created there. Jean-Michel Aulas assured that he is working on the arrival of new investors, both French and foreign, some of whom could make announcements before the summer.