FIFA requires each team to have a female coach.

Female football coaches will gain increased opportunities to be involved in the Women's World Cup and other competitions, after FIFA passed a new rule.

FIFA will require all teams participating in women's tournaments to have a female head coach or assistant coach, following the approval of a groundbreaking regulation at the council meeting.

This measure will take effect from the Women's U20 World Cup in September, and will be applied at the Women's World Cup in Brazil next year, as well as at the second edition of the Women's Champions Cup, which Arsenal won in 2026, and the inaugural Women's Club World Cup two years later.

FIFA hopes the new regulation will address the shortage of female coaches, despite the rapid growth of women's football. Jill Ellis, FIFA's Director of Football, stated: “Currently, there simply aren't enough women in coaching roles. We need to do more to drive change by creating clearer pathways, expanding opportunities, and increasing the presence of women in leadership positions.”

FIFA's new regulations, combined with targeted development programs, represent a crucial investment for both current and future generations of female coaches.”

The new regulations, applicable to all tournaments from youth level to national teams and club level, will also require at least two female staff members on the coaching bench, which may include the mandatory coach position.

Women's Euro 2025 set a record with seven female head coaches, but this number still did not reach half of the participating teams. At the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia, 12 out of 32 head coaches were women, while currently only 4 out of 12 teams in the Women's Super League are led by female coaches.

FIFA hopes the new regulations will complement existing programs, including the coach scholarship program that has supported 795 female coaches in 73 member associations, and the Elite Performance Coach Mentorship program, which over the past three years has connected 20 experienced and emerging coaches.