FIFA said the new rule requires each team competing in FIFA competitions to have at least two members of female staff on their bench, with one being a head coach or assistant. The new regulation will start at the Under-20 World Cup in Poland in September before being rolled out at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. This initiative is part of a wider strategy to ensure the growth of the women's game is matched by an increased number of women in leadership roles, according to FIFA.
The rule will also apply to FIFA's club competitions, the Club World Cup and the Champions Cup, as part of this expansion. At the 2023 World Cup, England's Sarina Wiegman was one of just 12 women head coaches, highlighting the limited female coaching representation. Seven of those 12 teams from the 2023 World Cup are now managed by men, while four teams that were managed by men are now managed by women, including Emma Hayes at the United States.
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.
Argentina, Colombia, France, Haiti, Morocco, and the Philippines all participated in the 2023 World Cup and had no female coaching staff, underscoring the need for change. FIFA will follow UEFA's footsteps, as UEFA has had a similar policy in place since 2020-21, providing a precedent for such measures. Jill Ellis, FIFA's chief football officer, stated that there are not enough women in coaching today and emphasized the need for clearer pathways and opportunities, with the new regulations and development programs marking an important investment.
Swedish forward Fridolina Rolfö says the rule is good but the same discussion should be raised on the men's side. Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, said that more women are needed in important positions in football and that support for women in coaching roles is essential. Unknowns remain regarding compliance penalties, current team readiness, and implementation support.
The new FIFA regulations, combined with targeted development programmes, mark an important investment in both the current and future generation of female coaches.
It is unclear what specific penalties or consequences teams will face if they fail to comply with the new FIFA rule on female coaching staff. How many current women's national teams currently meet the new requirement of having at least two female staff members on the bench, including a head coach or assistant, has not been confirmed. What targeted development programs FIFA is implementing to support the increase of female coaches, as mentioned by Jill Ellis, is also unspecified.
Will there be any exceptions or grace periods for teams that struggle to find qualified female coaching staff, especially in regions with fewer opportunities for women in football, remains to be seen. How FIFA plans to measure the impact and effectiveness of this new regulation on increasing women in leadership roles in football is another open question.
If you give the opportunity, women will take it.
I absolutely think so.