- FIFA has approved a regulation requiring all teams in women’s tournaments to include a female coach
- FIFA confirmed that the regulation will be enforced in upcoming high-profile events, including the Women’s Champions Cup and others
- The initiative aims to encourage federations and clubs to invest more in training, mentoring, and promoting women into coaching and leadership roles
Global football governing body FIFA has introduced a landmark regulation mandating greater female representation in coaching roles across women’s football.
Under the new rule approved at its council meeting on Thursday, March 19, every team participating in FIFA-organised women’s tournaments must appoint either a female head coach or a female assistant coach.
The policy will cut across youth and senior competitions, including national team tournaments and club-level events. It is set to debut at the upcoming Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland this September.
FIFA confirmed that the regulation will also apply to future competitions such as the second edition of the Women’s Champions Cup, the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, and the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup scheduled to take place in the next two years.
According to FIFA, the move is part of a broader push to ensure that the rapid expansion of women’s football is matched by increased female participation in leadership and technical roles.
Despite the sport’s growth, coaching positions remain largely male-dominated.
At the 2023 Women’s World Cup, only 12 out of 32 head coaches were women, highlighting the gap FIFA now seeks to address.
Speaking on the development, FIFA’s chief football officer, Jill Ellis, emphasised the urgency of improving representation.
“There are simply not enough women in coaching today.
“We must do more to accelerate change by creating clearer pathways, expanding opportunities, and increasing the visibility for women on our sidelines.
“The new FIFA regulations, combined with targeted development programmes, mark an important investment in both the current and future generation of female coaches.”
In addition to the coaching requirement, FIFA will now mandate that teams have at least two female staff members on the bench, which may include the designated female coach.
Teams must also include at least one woman as part of their medical staff, further reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to inclusivity and gender balance within the sport.