FIFA has introduced new regulations requiring every team in its women's competitions to have at least one female head or assistant coach, aiming to boost the number of women coaching at the highest levels. The rules, approved by the FIFA Council, come into effect this year and will cover all FIFA women's tournaments, from youth to senior level.
"There are simply not enough women in coaching today," said FIFA's Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis. "We must do more to accelerate change by creating clearer pathways, expanding opportunities, and increasing visibility for women on our sidelines."
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The regulations stipulate that each team must have two female staff on the bench. Currently, only 12 of the 32 head coaches at the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia were women. FIFA's Member Associations Survey in 2023 reported that an average 5 percent of coaches in each of their member associations were female.
FIFA's new rules are part of a long-term strategy to ensure representation of women in technical and leadership roles keeps pace with the rapid growth of the women's game. The organisation has increased support for women's coaching in recent years, including providing scholarships for females to obtain their UEFA Pro or A licence.
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