FA and WSL begin comprehensive study into ACL injuries in women's football
The Football Association and WSL Football have launched a major research project into anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women's football, according to a report published on 5 November 2026. The FA is funding a PhD study to be carried out with Imperial College London and sports knee surgeon Simon Ball.
The study will be led by researcher Hanna Lehtovirta and will involve clubs across the Women's Super League and WSL2. ACL injuries are described in the report as among the most serious issues facing the women's game and often keep players out for months. Research cited in the report suggests female footballers are two to six times more likely to suffer ACL injuries than their male counterparts.
Players named in the report who have suffered ACL injuries include Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Mary Fowler, Vivianne Miedema and Sam Kerr. The frequency of high-profile cases is presented in the study background as part of the rationale for a focused investigation.
Earlier research has pointed to potential risk factors such as anatomical, hormonal, biomechanical and environmental influences, the report notes. Researchers say less is known about how those factors interact in the day-to-day experience of elite football, and the new project aims to address that gap by combining scientific data with the experiences of players and staff.
Every WSL and WSL2 club will be invited to participate, with medical, performance and coaching staff also asked to take part. The research will be conducted in two phases, starting with player surveys that collect information on injury history, training and match load, and hormonal, nutritional and psychological factors. Data from players who have suffered ACL injuries since 2018-19 will be compared with those who have not.
The second phase will involve interviews with players and staff to explore perceptions of ACL injuries and current approaches to training and prevention.
Researchers hope the findings will help shape future injury prevention, rehabilitation and player welfare strategies in the women's game. In April 2025, Fifa announced they were also funding research into whether hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles could be contributing to the rise in ACL injuries in women's football.