Teams competing in FIFA women’s tournaments will now be required to have female representation on their coaching benches following the introduction of new regulations aimed at boosting gender inclusion.
The policy, approved during a FIFA Council meeting on Thursday, will take effect at this year’s Under-17 and Under-20 Women’s World Cups, as well as the Women’s Champions Cup.
Under the new directive, every team must include at least one woman in either a head coach or assistant coach position. In addition, a minimum of two female staff members must be present on the bench during matches.
The rule will apply across all competitions, covering both youth and senior levels, including club and national teams.
During the 2023 Women’s World Cup, only 12 of the 32 participating teams were led by female head coaches, among them England boss Sarina Wiegman.
FIFA’s chief football officer Jill Ellis stressed the need for change, stating: “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.”
“The new FIFA regulations, combined with targeted development programmes, mark an important investment in the current and future generation of female coaches.”
FIFA believes the move will significantly increase female coaching representation ahead of major tournaments, including the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
