Every team in FIFA\u2019s women\u2019s football tournaments must include at least one female head coach or assistant coach following the introduction of new regulations, reports BBC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The requirements will take effect during the 2023 Under-17 and Under-20 Women\u2019s World Cup and Women\u2019s Champions Cup competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The decision was made at the FIFA Council which discussed the long-term strategy of female representation in coaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the new ruling, at least two staff members on the bench of every team at matches must be female, with one in an assistant coach or head coach role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rule applies to all youth and senior tournaments, including clubs and national teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the 2023 Women\u2019s World Cup, 12 of the 32 head coaches were female, including England manager Sarina Wiegman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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,\u201d said FIFA\u2019s chief football officer Jill Ellis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe new FIFA regulations, combined with targeted development programmes, mark an important investment in the current and future generation of female coaches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FIFA hopes these new regulations will see a rapid increase in female representation, including at the 2027 Women\u2019s World Cup in Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among some of the most high-profile female coaches is London-born Emma Hayes, who is joined by assistant Denise Reddy in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2024, Hayes told BBC Sport that a lack of female coaches in English football is \u201ca massive issue\u201d and urged the game\u2019s administrators to \u201ccome up with more creative ways\u201d to address it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other female English coaches at the international level include Gemma Grainger at Norway, Casey Stoney at Canada and Carla Ward at the Republic of Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Canadian Rhian Wilkinson led Wales to their first major tournament at Euro 2025 last summer, while Dutchwoman Wiegman has guided England to back-to-back European titles and has been named the FIFA best women\u2019s coach of the year on four occasions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wiegman was the only female coach in the quarterfinal stage of the 2023 Women\u2019s World Cup. Speaking at that time, she said: \u201cOf course what we hope is to get more female coaches at the top level and that the balance gets better than it is right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMales are welcome too but if the balance is better, hopefully that will inspire more women to get involved in coaching.\u201d<\/p>\n\n