World football governing body FIFA has introduced a new regulation requiring all women’s teams participating in its competitions to include at least one female coach on their technical crew.
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Under the directive, teams must appoint either a female head coach or assistant coach. In addition, a minimum of two female officials must be present on the bench during matches.
The policy, which takes immediate effect, will be implemented at upcoming tournaments including the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, and the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
It applies to both youth and senior competitions, covering club and national teams such as Nigeria’s Super Falcons.
The decision was approved during a FIFA Council meeting held on March 19, 2026, as part of efforts to boost female representation in coaching and leadership roles within the women’s game.
FIFA’s Chief Football Officer, Jill Ellis, said the move is necessary to address the imbalance in coaching positions.
“There are simply not enough women in coaching today. We must do more to accelerate change by creating clearer pathways, expanding opportunities, and increasing visibility for women on our sidelines,” Ellis stated.
Despite the rapid growth of women’s football globally, coaching roles remain largely dominated by men. At the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, only 12 of the 32 participating teams were managed by female head coaches.
FIFA noted that the new rule forms part of a broader long-term strategy that includes investment in coach education and professional development programmes aimed at empowering more women to take up technical roles.
The governing body hopes the initiative will significantly increase the number of female coaches by the time of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
