FIFA Cracks Down on Gender Bias in Coaching Roles
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FIFA has introduced a landmark regulation requiring at least one female head coach or assistant coach in every team participating in its women's competitions.
The rule, set to take effect in 2026, aims to address the significant gender imbalance in elite coaching, with only 5% of coaches across FIFA's member associations being women.
The regulation will be introduced at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland, before extending to major senior events, including the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.
FIFA has also mandated that each team must include at least one female medical staff member and have at least two female officials on the bench.
The move comes as FIFA tries to push women into leadership positions in a game where progress on the pitch has not yet been matched off it.
