FIFA introduces a rule that makes female coaches mandatory in women’s football

World football’s governing body FIFA has approved new regulations requiring all teams participating in women’s competitions to include at least one female coach.

According to the new rule, participating teams must appoint a female head coach or assistant coach.

The directive will apply to youth and senior tournaments, including national team and club competitions.

The policy will debut at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland this September. It will also be implemented at the Women’s European Cup, the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup scheduled for 2028.

FIFA said the move is part of a broader strategy to ensure the rapid growth of women’s football is accompanied by greater female representation in coaching and leadership roles.
Despite the sport’s expansion, women remain underrepresented in coaching.

At the 2023 Women’s World Cup, only 12 of the 32 coaches were women.

FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis said more efforts were needed to accelerate progress, highlighting the importance of creating pathways and increasing visibility for women on the sidelines.
Additionally, the new regulations require teams to have at least two women on the bench – one of whom can be the designated coach – and at least one woman included in the medical team.

FIFA noted that the policy, together with targeted development programmes, aims to support both current and future generations of female coaches.