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FIFA has announced new regulations mandating that every team competing in women’s football tournaments must have at least one female coach, either as a head coach or assistant coach.
The rules will be implemented in competitions this year, including the under-17 and under-20 Women’s World Cups as well as the Women’s Champions Cup. FIFA Council approved the move on Thursday, highlighting its commitment to long-term female representation in coaching roles.
Under the new guidelines, each team’s matchday bench must include at least two female staff members, with one occupying a head coach or assistant coach position. The regulation applies across all youth and senior-level tournaments, covering both national teams and club competitions.
At the 2023 Women’s World Cup, only 12 of the 32 head coaches were women, including England manager Sarina Wiegman. FIFA chief football officer Jill Ellis emphasized the need to increase opportunities for women in coaching: “There are simply not enough women in coaching today. We must accelerate change by creating clearer pathways and raising visibility for female coaches.”
FIFA hopes the new policy, alongside targeted development programs, will boost female representation on sidelines, aiming for stronger participation by the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Some high-profile female coaches already making an impact include Emma Hayes, assisted by Denise Reddy in the US, and England’s Sarina Wiegman, who has won back-to-back European titles and four FIFA Best Women’s Coach awards. Other notable coaches include Gemma Grainger (Norway), Casey Stoney (Canada), Carla Ward (Republic of Ireland), and Rhian Wilkinson, who guided Wales to their first major tournament at Euro 2025.
Wiegman, the only female coach in the 2023 World Cup quarter-finals, previously commented: “We hope this will inspire more women to get involved in coaching. Men are welcome too, but improving the balance is key.”
