FIFA Mandates Female Coaches for Women’s Teams

FIFA has introduced new regulations requiring every team in its women’s football competitions to include at least one female head coach or assistant coach.

The policy, approved by the FIFA Council, will take effect in upcoming tournaments, including the Under-17 and Under-20 Women’s World Cups, as well as the Women’s Champions Cup later this year. It will apply across all levels, youth and senior competitions, for both club and national teams.

Under the new rules, each team must also have at least two female staff members on the bench during matches, with one serving in a coaching role.

FIFA says the move is part of a broader effort to boost female representation in football coaching. At the 2023 Women’s World Cup, only 12 of the 32 participating teams had female head coaches.

FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis noted that the number of women in coaching remains too low and stressed the need for stronger pathways, increased opportunities, and greater visibility for female coaches.

She described the new regulations, alongside development programmes, as a significant step toward supporting both current and future generations of women in coaching.

FIFA hopes the initiative will lead to a noticeable rise in female coaches, particularly ahead of the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Several high-profile female coaches continue to make an impact globally, including England’s Sarina Wiegman, a multiple FIFA Best Women’s Coach award winner, and Emma Hayes, who currently coaches in the United States.

Despite progress, experts say more work is needed to achieve gender balance in coaching, with calls for innovative strategies to encourage more women into the profession.