Three leading teams in the upcoming Women's World Cup, France, Canada and Spain, are facing major issues.
France captain, Wendie Renard, withdrew from the national team to focus on her mental health.
Canada's Olympic champions were fighting with their governing body over equal pay.
Spain is grappling with a split between players, leading to 15 players being excluded from selection.
As the countdown to the Women's World Cup begins, three top teams are experiencing issues within their respective teams.
France is without their captain Wendie Renard, who has withdrawn from the national team to focus on her mental health.
Canada's Olympic champions are in dispute with their governing body over pay equality.
Meanwhile, Spain has not recovered from a division amongst players last September.
While the issues in Canada and Spain can be traced to interpersonal tensions, Wendie Renard's decision speaks to the importance of mental health in the sport.
Additionally, the three teams face different opponents in the World Cup, with Spain in a more advantageous position.
While the teams are experiencing crises and may face setbacks, they remain contenders in the upcoming tournament.