FIFA creates rule requiring female coaches at women’s tournaments

By: The Associated Press Posted: 5:34 PM CDT Thursday, Mar. 19, 2026

ZURICH (AP) — Female soccer coaches will get more chances to work at the Women’s World Cup and other tournaments after FIFA passed a new rule Thursday.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

ZURICH (AP) — Female soccer coaches will get more chances to work at the Women’s World Cup and other tournaments after FIFA passed a new rule Thursday.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/03/2026 (190 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ZURICH (AP) — Female soccer coaches will get more chances to work at the Women’s World Cup and other tournaments after FIFA passed a new rule Thursday.

FIFA said it will require at its women’s tournaments that “at least one female must be a head coach or assistant coach” of each team.

Just 10 of 32 teams at the 2023 Women’s World Cup had a female head coach, including Sarina Wiegman of beaten finalist England.

England manager Sarina Wiegman stands on the touchline during the FIFA Women's World Cup UEFA Qualifier match between England and Iceland at the City Ground, in Nottingham, England, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)

“We must do more to accelerate change by creating clearer pathways, expanding opportunities, and increasing the visibility for women on our sidelines,” FIFA’s Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis said in a statement.

FIFA’s policy will aim to spread globally what European soccer body UEFA has done where the women’s game is more developed.

Though just seven of 16 teams at the Women’s European Championship had a female head coach, all that appointed a man as head coach had to have a female assistant coach.

Wiegman guided England to retain its European title, which was her own third in a row and an eighth straight for female head coaches in the competition dating back to 1997.