FIFA Set To Increase Female Staff Representation

Have you ever wondered why male coaches are in charge of women's sports teams, but not the other way around? Sit tight because this tea is piping hot – and to understand where we're going, we have to look at how we got cooled off in the first place.

History

Before the passage of Title IX in 1972, over 90% of women’s collegiate teams were coached by women. As the prestige and salaries of women's sports grew, more men entered the field, leading to the current disparity.

For those who are wondering what the heck that is, Title IX is a broad federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving federal funding. While this act is commonly referred to for its impact on sports, it covers nearly every aspect of the student and employee experience.

Jill Hutchison, coach of Illinois State women's basketball for 28 total seasons, starting in 1970 up until 1999, so only 2 of them were before Title IX. Courtesy of wglt.org

The 1970s Power Shift

Following Title IX, women's athletic departments were absorbed into men's departments. This move put male administrators in charge of hiring, and – shocker – they hired from their own circles, effectively shutting the door behind them. This tendency eliminated women from even being considered for a seat at the table, let alone being the leader in a room.

It wasn't just a change in coaching, though; it was a coup of leadership. When women's programs merged into men's departments to "save costs," female Athletic Directors (ADs)– who were the primary recruiters for female coaches–were demoted or pushed out. Without women in the front office, the pipeline for women on the sidelines was effectively severed.

Before the money started to pour in, coaching women's teams was seen as a "hobby." The moment Title IX mandated real budgets and scholarships, these roles were rebranded as "professional careers." Suddenly, the jobs women had done for decades for free, or very little compensation, were deemed too high-stakes for them to handle now that there was a paycheck attached.

Just as an example, in professional women's soccer (or football, if you will), nearly 80% of head coaches worldwide are...you guessed it, men.

After decades of being overlooked and seen as unqualified, it's finally time for a change, and the world thinks so too.

Mark Johnson, head coach of the Wisconsin-Madison Badgers. Courtesy of uwbadgers.com

Changing the Game

Starting in 2026, the FIFA Council has mandated that all teams participating in its women's competitions must have at least one female head coach or assistant coach. According to the new regulations approved on March 19, the specific requirements include:

• Mandatory Coaching Role: Every team must ensure that their head coach and/or at least one of their assistant coaches is female.

• Bench Representation: At least two officials (non-playing personnel named on the official team) seated on the team bench during matches must be female.

• Medical Staff: At least one member of the team's medical staff must be female.

 This applies to all youth and senior tournaments, national team competitions, and club competitions.

There is no immediate mandate from FIFA for local recreational, amateur, or community teams to change their bench composition because these teams are governed by local and national associations, not directly by the FIFA Council rules. The rules are meant to increase visibility so that girls in recreational programs see coaching as a viable career path.

Crucially, this isn't about taking seats away; it's about building a bigger table. Teams aren't required to fire male staff to meet quotas – they are encouraged to expand their technical teams, ensuring that the best female minds in the game finally have a pitch-side view.

To ensure a qualified pool of candidates, FIFA is pairing these mandates with initiatives like the Coach Scholarship Program, which has already supported nearly 800 female coaches across 73 Member Associations since 2021.

Carmelina Moscato (left) became assistant coach of Racing Louisville FC technical staff after employment from FIFA Education Scholarship Program. Courtesy of racingloufc.com

 FIFA’s Chief Football Officer, Jill Ellis, commented, "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."

Despite the significant expansion of the women’s game globally, coaching positions remain predominantly occupied by men. Even at the highest level–the 2023 World Cup–less than 40% of the tactical masterminds on the sidelines were women. FIFA's new mandate is the whistle-blow that ends this era.

England Women's National Team coach Sarina Wiegman was the only female coach remaining after the round of 16 in the 2023 Women's World Cup. Courtesy of sportsbusinessjournal.com

Timeline & Future

Where do we go from here? The countdown has started. These regulations aren't just "suggestions" – they are the new standard for the following 2026 milestones:

• September: FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup (Poland)

• October: FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup (Morocco)

• The Big One: The debut of the FIFA Women's Champions Cup

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to ensure the rapid growth of the women’s game is matched by an increased representation of women in technical and leadership roles. Ellis also noted, "The new FIFA regulations, combined with targeted development programs, mark an important investment in both the current and future generation of female coaches."

FIFA believes that making the change will reshape the future of women's football for the better, and we do as well!

Edited by Reese Dlabach