FIFA requires female coaches on all women’s tournament benches

FIFA has announced new rules requiring all teams in its women’s football competitions to include female coaches on their benches, a move designed to increase female representation in the sport

Starting this year, the regulations will apply to the Under-17 and Under-20 Women’s World Cups, as well as the Women’s Champions Cup. Each team must now have at least one woman serving as either head coach or assistant coach, and at least two female staff members must be present on the bench during matches.

The rules cover all levels of competition, from youth to senior tournaments, and extend to both national teams and club sides.

At the 2023 Women’s World Cup, only 12 of the 32 teams had female head coaches, including England manager Sarina Wiegman.

FIFA chief football officer Jill Ellis said: “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.”

She added, “The new FIFA regulations, combined with targeted development programmes, mark an important investment in the current and future generation of female coaches.”

FIFA expects the changes to boost the number of women in coaching roles, aiming for stronger representation at upcoming tournaments, including the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.