Global football governing body FIFA has introduced a new regulation requiring all women’s teams participating in its tournaments to include female coaches on their technical benches.
Under the directive, each team must have at least one female head coach or assistant coach, while a minimum of two female staff members must be present on the bench during matches.
The rule will take effect starting with this year’s U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups, as well as the Women’s Champions Cup.
The decision, approved by the FIFA Council, forms part of a broader push to address the underrepresentation of women in coaching roles across global football.
FIFA’s Chief Football Officer, Jill Ellis, said the move is aimed at accelerating opportunities for women and creating clearer pathways into coaching at elite levels.
She noted that the current imbalance in the profession requires deliberate and sustained intervention.
Despite the growth of women’s football, female representation in coaching remains limited. At the 2023 Women’s World Cup, only 12 out of 32 teams were led by female head coaches.
Prominent figures in the women’s coaching space include Emma Hayes, who leads the United States team, and Sarina Wiegman, who has guided England to multiple European titles and earned several global coaching accolades.
Others making strides at the international level include Gemma Grainger, Casey Stoney, and Carla Ward, while Rhian Wilkinson recently led Wales to a historic qualification for a major tournament.
FIFA believes the new rule will significantly boost female participation in coaching roles and inspire more women to pursue careers on the sidelines, ahead of future competitions such as the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The governing body insists that improving gender balance in coaching is not only a matter of equity but also essential for the continued growth and development of the women’s game globally.
