FIFA has passed a landmark ruling requiring all teams participating in its women’s tournaments to have either a female head coach or a female assistant.
The groundbreaking regulations, approved during a FIFA Council meeting on Thursday, represent a direct attempt to address the persistent lack of female representation on the sidelines despite the rapid global growth of the women's game. The new mandate is set to apply across the board, covering all youth and senior international tournaments, national team competitions, and club competitions.
The measure will officially come into effect for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup this September. It will subsequently be enforced at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, as well as the second edition of the Women’s Champions Cup—recently won by Arsenal in 2026—and the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup scheduled for 2028.
Jill Ellis, FIFA’s chief football officer and the former United States national team head coach, emphasized the necessity of the intervention. "There are simply not enough women in coaching today," Ellis stated. "We must do more to accelerate change by creating clearer pathways, expanding opportunities, and increasing the visibility for women on our sidelines".
By making a female presence in the dugout a regulatory requirement, FIFA hopes to dismantle existing barriers and ensure that the leadership of the sport more accurately reflects the players on the pitch.
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