A new rule from FIFA requiring women to be included on coaching staff in women’s competitions is being welcomed, but coaches say it must lead to real opportunities, not just a formality.
Under the rule, teams must have at least one female coach on staff, along with female officials and medical personnel on the bench. The aim is to increase representation, but many coaches believe more can be done.
As Chicago Stars assistant Mariana Cabral put it, “Gender does not determine the competence of a person… but because men are so overly represented in this situation, we need to help the women get into these positions.”
There is agreement that the rule could help open doors, especially at the international level, but concerns remain about how it will be applied. Some fear it could lead to teams simply filling positions to meet requirements rather than giving women meaningful roles.
“What matters most is it should not just be about making a rule, but about giving someone a real chance to work,” said Serbia head coach Lidija Stojkanovic.
Another issue raised is access. Coaching courses remain limited and expensive, making it harder for women to progress. Even with growing interest, spaces on top-level coaching licences are still oversubscribed, creating a bottleneck.
Former coach developer Manisha Tailor pointed out that change will not come from rules alone, saying there also needs to be clarity on how those opportunities are created and supported.
For many, the rule is a step forward, but only if it leads to real development and long-term change, not just a box being ticked.
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