The FIFA Council approved this Thursday in Zurich a new regulation with which it intends “transform the future of women’s football”, by demanding the presence of women in team management positions in all its women’s competitions.
“Starting this year, each team participating in FIFA women’s competitions must ensure that its head coach and/or at least one of the assistant coaches is female, that at least one member of the medical staff is female and that at least two of the officials sitting on the team bench are female,” FIFA announced.
A standard to promote gender equality on the benches
The measure will begin to be developed this year in the Women’s U-20 World Cup, which will be played in Poland during the month of September, followed by the U-17 Women’s World Cup and the Women’s Champions Cup and the rest of the competitions scheduled this year. Also It will be applied in all FIFA competitions for national teams and clubsof all age categories. The body that governs world football also highlights that it will also be applied next year at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
“There are not enough women on the coaching staff today. We must do more to accelerate change by creating clearer pathways, expanding opportunities and increasing the visibility of women on the bench,” said Jill Ellis, FIFA’s director of football.
According to FIFA, the initiative is part of the overall strategy to ensure that the rapid growth of women’s football is in line with hand in hand with an increase in female representation in technical and leadership positions. “Despite the considerable expansion of sport around the world, there are still more men than women in technical positions,” says FIFA.
Two First Division coaches in bench football with a glass ceiling
Programs to promote commitment to women
Since 2021, FIFA has helped 795 female coaches from 73 member associations with its training scholarship program, by making advanced degrees and professional opportunities available to you. Also, thanks to FIFA Women’s Champions Cup 2026 legacy programme, Clubs in the first and second categories of the English Women’s Super League have been offered technical training scholarships for women studying the UEFA A license and Pro license.
On the other hand, the third edition of Mentoring program for elite female coaches, launched in 2025, It pairs 20 promising coaches from around the world with 20 coaches with recognized experience. Finally, FIFA has developed the football development structure FIFA coach trainers, in order to expand the global network of technicians capable of training the next generation of female coaches.
