FIFA has made a landmark decision to strengthen gender equality in women's football. From now on, every team participating in a FIFA women's tournament will be required to include at least one woman on their technical staff, holding a position as head coach or assistant coach. In addition, at least two women must be part of the staff present on the bench.
This new regulation, approved by the FIFA Council, will apply to all FIFA women's competitions, including the U-17 and U-20 Women's World Cups, the Women's Champions Cup, and the upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 in Brazil. The main objective is to increase the representation of women in leadership positions and create more opportunities for female coaches.
Jill Ellis, FIFA's Chief Football Officer and former coach of the United States women's national team, highlighted the lack of women in coaching roles. She stated, "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".
FIFA hopes this measure will help increase the number of female coaches and promote gender equality in football at all levels. This decision follows alarming findings: at the 2023 Women's World Cup, only 12 of the 32 teams were led by women. In addition, six teams had no women on their staff.
This initiative is part of a broader FIFA strategy to encourage inclusion and gender balance in football. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had already stressed the need to have more women in important positions in football. FIFA has established a scholarship program for coaches, which has supported nearly 800 female coaches since 2021.
FIFA's new rule not only imposes a female presence but requires that at least one woman hold a recognized coaching position, whether head or assistant. This distinction is essential because it ensures that women are not simply present in a support capacity but are exercising an active leadership role.
The implementation of this rule will begin with the U-20 Women's World Cup in September. FIFA believes that these bold measures will transform the coaching landscape in women's football and inspire a new generation of female leaders.
By requiring the presence of female coaches, FIFA hopes to bridge the visibility gap and encourage more young women to consider a career in coaching. The future of women's football looks more equitable.
