Fifa has introduced new regulations requiring female coaches to be on the bench for all teams at the Women's World Cup. This follows the 2023 tournament where only 12 of 32 head coaches were women, including England's Sarina Wiegman. Fifa's chief football officer Jill Ellis stated the move is crucial to accelerate change by creating clearer pathways and increasing visibility for women in coaching.

The new rules aim for a rapid increase in female representation, including at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Emma Hayes, London-born coach of the United States, and others like Gemma Grainger at Norway and Casey Stoney at Canada, highlight the current scarcity. Hayes previously told BBC Sport the lack of female coaches in English football is 'a massive issue'.