FIFA Mandates Female Coaches in Women's Football Competitions

FIFA has approved a new regulation requiring that teams participating in women's competitions must appoint at least one female coach, either as a head coach or an assistant coach. This rule will be implemented across youth and senior tournaments, including national teams and club competitions, starting with the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Poland in September 2023.

Additionally, teams will need to have at least two female staff members on the bench, which includes at least one woman in the medical team. FIFA's Chief Football Officer, Jill Ellis, emphasized the need to accelerate progress in women's football and create pathways for increased visibility of women in coaching roles.

The policy is part of a broader strategy to ensure the rapid growth of women's football, addressing the current underrepresentation of women in coaching positions, as evidenced by the fact that only 12 out of 32 head coaches at the 2023 Women’s World Cup were female.