FIFA Introduces New Rules to Boost Female Coaches in Women’s Football
FIFA has announced new rules requiring all teams in its women’s tournaments to have a female head coach or assistant coach. The decision was made at a council meeting on Thursday and is being described as a major step for women in football.
The rules will apply to all youth and senior tournaments, national team competitions, and club competitions. They will take effect at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland this September. The regulations will also be used at the second women’s Champions Cup, the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, and the first women’s Club World Cup in 2028.
FIFA said the initiative is part of its wider plan “to ensure that the rapid growth of the women’s game is matched by an increased representation of women in technical and leadership roles.”
Despite the growth of women’s football, coaching roles are still mostly held by men. At the 2023 Women’s World Cup, only 12 of the 32 head coaches were women.
“There are simply not enough women in coaching today,” said Jill Ellis, FIFA’s chief football officer and former head coach of the United States women’s national team. “We must do more to accelerate change by creating clearer pathways, expanding opportunities, and increasing the visibility of women on our sidelines. The new FIFA regulations, combined with development programmes, are an important investment in both the current and future generation of female coaches.”
Under the new rules, teams must have at least two female staff on the bench, which can include the mandatory coach. Teams will also be required to have at least one woman on their medical staff.
