In an effort to address the gender disparity in elite coaching, FIFA passed a historic rule mandating that every side participating in its women`s competitions have at least one female head coach or assistant coach. The FIFA Council approved the decision on March 19, and it will start to apply to all women`s competitions later this year.
Before being extended to big events like the 2027 Women`s World Cup in Brazil, the regulation will be implemented at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women`s World Cup, the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women`s World Cup in Poland, and the FIFA Women`s Champions Cup. FIFA has also stipulated that every team have a minimum of two female officials on the bench and a minimum of one female member of the medical staff.
The move comes as FIFA tries to push women into leadership positions. Just 12 of the 32 teams competing in the 2023 Women`s World Cup had female head coaches. Sarina Wiegman of England was the only woman still heading a team by the round of 16.
“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.” FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis said after the decision.
FIFA`s approach will try to replicate what UEFA, the European football organisation, has done in areas where the women`s game is more advanced. Even though only seven of the sixteen teams competing in the Women`s European Championship had a female head coach, every team with a male head coach was required to have a female assistant coach.
Gianni Infantino wants more women`s involvement in football
FIFA president Gianni Infantino had flagged the issue earlier this year. “Of course, we need more women in important positions in football,” he said at the UEFA Congress in February. Maybe we need… more women coaches in women’s teams.”
The regulation now puts that idea into policy, with federations set to come under immediate pressure to reshape their coaching structures before FIFA’s next women’s tournament, including more women in the coaching staff.
(With AP Input)
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