FIFA makes female coaches mandatory in Women’s competitions

FIFA has introduced a new rule mandating that every team participating in its women’s competitions must include at least one female head coach or assistant coach.

The directive, approved by the FIFA Council on Thursday, forms part of broader efforts to boost female representation in coaching at the highest level of the game.

The new regulations will take effect in upcoming tournaments, including the U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups, as well as the Women’s Champions Cup, and will apply across all FIFA women’s competitions from youth to senior level.

FIFA Chief Football Officer, Jill Ellis, said the policy also requires each team to have at least two additional female staff members on the bench.

She noted that the move is necessary to address the underrepresentation of women in coaching roles globally.

“There are simply not enough women in coaching today. We must do more to accelerate change by creating clearer pathways, expanding opportunities, and increasing visibility for women on our sidelines,” Ellis said.

She explained that the regulations are part of a long-term strategy aimed at ensuring that women’s presence in technical and leadership roles reflects the rapid growth of the women’s game worldwide.

FIFA data showed that only 12 of the 32 head coaches at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia were women, with just one—England’s Sarina Wiegman—remaining after the round of 16.

Further statistics indicate that women account for an average of just five per cent of coaches across both male and female teams globally, while only 22 per cent of head coaches in women’s leagues are female.

The organisation added that it has intensified efforts to support women in coaching through development programmes and scholarships, including funding opportunities for female coaches to obtain top-level qualifications such as UEFA Pro and A licences.

FIFA said the latest policy is expected to accelerate progress toward gender balance in football leadership and create more opportunities for women in the sport.