Women’s Club World Cup legacy focused on increasing women’s coaching numbers

February 2 – FIFA, The FA and the Women’s Super League Football (WSL Football) have announced two programmes to increase the number of women’s coaches in the game as the cornerstone of the Women’s Champions Cup 2026 legacy programme.

The aim is to remove barriers, accelerate professional development and create sustainable pathways for female coaches. FIFA is fund a targeted scholarship programme providing financial support for female coaches in England who are pursuing the UEFA A Diploma and the UEFA Pro Diploma.

A second initiative will deliver an evidence-based, individualised development programme for female coaches already working in a coaching role. The objective is to accelerate learning and progression within England’s elite women’s football environment.

“Competitions like this one help us to strengthen the pathways in women’s football and to elevate the entire ecosystem. The future of the game really depends on what we build beyond the pitch,” said FIFA’s Chief Football Officer, Jill Ellis.

“There are simply not enough women in coaching, not because of a lack of talent or ambition, but largely due to limited access and opportunity, and a lack of clear pathways. Closing this gap is essential not only to equity, but also to unlocking the full potential of our sport. This landmark legacy coaching initiative is one of the most direct ways we can have a positive impact,” Ellis continued.

The push is to unlock access to senior roles and further high-performance development opportunities for women.

“We have already seen many incredible female coaches progress through UEFA’s A and Pro Diploma courses, and this scholarship provides opportunities for more women to follow this path and access elite coaching education that will help advance their coaching careers,” said the Head of Coach Development at The FA, Dan Clements.

“… it is imperative that we continue to nurture the existing pool of talented female coaches. That is why we are excited to collaborate and deliver this development programme, which will ensure that the knowledge and skill sets of female coaches develop as the women’s game continues to grow.”

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