The professionalization of women’s football in South America is advancing through legal gains, collective organization, and structural challenges that still shape its development. In Chile, that process has taken a decisive step forward: players now have formal protection under labor legislation, a change that not only redefines their relationship with clubs and the federation, but also projects a model that seeks to be replicated across the region. The message is clear: the growth of the sport cannot be sustained without contractual guarantees, social protection, and effective representation.
The most recent milestone was the transformation of the Asociación Nacional de Futbolistas Femeninas (ANJUF) into a legally recognized union. Its president, Javiera Moreno, insists that the goal goes beyond Chile: to ensure that female representation becomes a reality in players’ unions around the world. Unionization now requires clubs and the federation to collectively negotiate contracts and working conditions, consolidating a process that began nearly a decade ago with a small group of players determined to change the rules of the game.
Chile as a laboratory for structural change
ANJUF was founded in 2016 by footballers such as Christiane Endler, Iona Rothfeld, Camila García, Fernanda Pinilla, Romina Parraguirre, and Moreno herself. In a context where many players lacked formal contracts or adequate medical coverage, the organization began working quietly to correct basic inequalities. Over time, it secured healthcare access, developed protocols against abuse and harassment, and pushed for a legal framework that recognized the activity as professional.
That effort crystallized in 2022, when the Chilean government passed a law requiring first- and second-division clubs to sign professional contracts with all their players, a goal that was completed three years later. The current difference lies in the union’s legal strength: whereas dialogue was once voluntary, it is now mandatory. Moreno maintains that collaboration will remain the main tool, but now with an institutional foundation that strengthens players’ positions and broadens the horizon toward the league’s full professionalization.
A regional challenge with historic opportunities
The Chilean case fits into a heterogeneous South American landscape. Moreno believes the region can learn from Europe and the United States, but warns that Conmebol must intensify its commitment to consolidating tournaments such as the Nations League, the Copa América, and the Copa Libertadores Femenina. In her view, regional coordination will be decisive for the future of the process.
Camila García, former vice president of FIFPRO and current director of ANJUF, emphasizes that union status protects those who wish to engage in labor negotiations without fear of retaliation. Her experience has allowed her to connect with counterparts in Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia, where players themselves have led significant reforms, with figures such as Aline Pellegrino playing strategic roles. On the horizon is the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, the first to be held in South America, seen as an opportunity to consolidate structural progress. For Chilean leaders, the real challenge will be turning symbolic momentum into sustained policies that ensure growth does not fade over time.
