The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026™ is currently underway showcasing the best young talent from around the world, but it is also marking the debut of a groundbreaking initiative to boost opportunities for women in coaching.

A ruling in March 2026 by the FIFA council, which approved groundbreaking regulations to reshape the future of women’s football, mandated female representation in team leadership across all its women’s competitions.

The new regulations require every team to include at least one female head coach or assistant coach in FIFA women’s tournaments, as well as ensuring that at least one of the medical staff be female and at least two officials seated on the team bench.

These regulations apply to all youth and senior tournaments, national team competitions, and club competitions and is making its debut at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™.

Aiming to increase the number of female coaches globally, these changes will build on the foundations of existing FIFA initiatives such as the Women’s National Team Preparation Programme, FIFA Female Coach Educators' Development Pathway and FIFA’s Coach Education Scholarship Programme.

“It ties in very well with FIFA's programmes and helps promote the development of women in sport and, in this case, football,” said Patricia Aguilar, head coach of Costa Rica U20 women's national team. “It also underlines that it's not simply a question of gender but of ability. We need to have more faith in female coaches and recognise that there are women with the ability and the level required to lead a group of players.

“It opens doors for many women like us who are developing our careers in a sport still predominantly led by men. It's a great opportunity for women to become more visible and play a greater role, including in coaching.

“And it's not just about coaching but the medical staff also have to include a woman. All of this helps promote the development of women's football as a whole, not only on the playing side but among the staff as well. It will contribute to women's football not only in my country, which is obviously important to me, but around the world as well.”

Following this tournament, the mandates will be seen in the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ and the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup™ before appearing at the biggest women’s sporting event on the planet, the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™.

“Whether you’re a physio, whether you’re a doctor, whether you’re an analyst, whether you’re sitting behind the camera, I think creating opportunities for women is central,” said Emma Hayes, head coach of the United States women’s national team. “But so often in a game that is still very young compared to the men’s game, providing access for female coaches to develop is critical. For the rest of the world to be in a position where we’re providing access for women to coach is essential, and I think it’s a brilliant scheme by FIFA.”

This initiative goes hand-in-hand with the FIFA Women’s Development Programme and, specifically, the coaching mentorship programme – which several of the head coaches in Poland are benefitting from, including Aguilar.

“It's been very enriching. We've had several workshops where mentors and mentees have exchanged a lot of ideas and tools: I'm very happy with the experience,” she said. “It's one of those programmes that really helps promote the development of female coaches, which is also very important for the development of women's football.”

The head coach of Brazil’s U20 women's national team, Camilla Orlando, is also part of the programme.

“I had been dreaming to be in this programme, so it’s amazing to be in the programme and I’m very happy to have been chosen to take part in the programme,” said Orlando. “My mentor helped me a lot to be confident, to plan and to connect with the players, to connect with the staff team.”

The aim of the FIFA Women's Development Programme is to get more female coaches to occupy positions at the top level and is designed to foster the continued development of female coaches within the member association through the different phases of a coach’s career.