BY OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN-ROSE
FIFA has announced a new rule mandating the inclusion of female coaches in all women’s tournaments under its control.
The decision, approved by the FIFA Council, requires every team participating in FIFA women’s competitions to have at least one woman serving as either head coach or assistant coach on the bench. In addition, each team must include a minimum of two female staff members within their technical setup.
The regulation takes immediate effect and will be enforced in upcoming tournaments such as the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, U-20 Women’s World Cup, and the Women’s Champions Cup. It applies across both youth and senior competitions, covering national teams as well as club-level events.
According to FIFA chief football officer Jill Ellis, the move is aimed at addressing the shortage of women in coaching roles. She emphasized the need to create better pathways, expand opportunities, and improve visibility for female coaches within the sport.
The initiative forms part of FIFA’s broader strategy to strengthen women’s football through policy changes and increased investment in coaching education and professional development.
Statistics from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup highlight the current gap, with only 12 of the 32 participating teams led by female head coaches.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has also voiced support for increasing female representation in football, noting that the growth of the women’s game must be matched by greater inclusion of women in leadership and technical roles.
