Attendance up but fewer female participants as LFFP and FFF take stock | OneFootball

French women’s football ends the season with crowds and digital reach rising, yet participation falling. The Ligue féminine de football professionnel staged its awards gala on Monday.

According to L'Équipe, the LFFP’s general assembly the same day said Arkema Première Ligue crowds now average 2,269 per match, up from 1,654 in 2024-2025, helped by more games in larger, often men’s, stadiums.

That is about 1,000 fewer than Germany and roughly a third of England’s figure, but ahead of Spain. Each of last week’s two play-offs drew around 7,000.

Canal+ audiences are flat on last season, with a peak above 200,000 for last week’s semi-finals. The Lyon v PSG Coupe de la Ligue final, won 1-0, drew more than 400,000 on La Chaîne L'Équipe. The league’s social channels are up 50%.

Registrations across men and women stand at about 2.32 million. Women’s licences are 245,000, down from 253,000, with the fall concentrated among players, especially U6 to U13, while other roles rise.

The FFF sees the dip as cyclical, citing a season without major women’s events, limited facilities and educators, and the removal of Pass'Sport for six to 13-year-olds since autumn 2025. A campaign launches on Wednesday 27 May to promote amateur women’s football and encourage parents to register girls, with an influencers event at Jean-Bouin to follow. OL Lyonnes could claim another European title on Saturday, then face Paris FC in the Championship final next Friday.

Source: L'Équipe