FIFA Women’s Champions Cup 2026™️ legacy to power the next generation of elite female coaches

WSL Football

30/01/2026

FIFA, The Football Association and Women’s Super League Football join forces to continue to develop opportunities for female coaches in England
Dual-focus approach features a targeted scholarship fund and an evidence-based development programme
FIFA Women’s Champions Cup™ raises the bar for elite competitions while accelerating the professionalisation and visibility of women’s club football worldwide

The final stage of the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup 2026™ in London marks a watershed moment for women’s club football, with an impact that extends far beyond the four pivotal matches on the pitch. Against the backdrop of the groundbreaking tournament, FIFA, The Football Association (The FA) and Women’s Super League Football (WSL Football) are driving a range of initiatives designed to support the sustainable growth of the women’s game, including a shared commitment to enhancing the opportunities available for new and existing female coaches.

The FIFA Women’s Champions Cup 2026 legacy programme comprises two ambitious and complementary initiatives designed to remove barriers, accelerate professional development and create sustainable pathways for female coaches over the long term. At the heart of the programme is a targeted scholarship fund, funded by FIFA, which provides financial support for female coaches in England who are pursuing the highest coaching qualifications in the region, namely the UEFAA Diploma and the UEFAPro Diploma.

"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."
Jill Ellis, FIFA’s Chief Football Officer.

Through close collaboration, FIFA, The FA and WSL Football will also deliver an evidence-based, individualised development programme for female coaches already working in a coaching role. The programme is designed to accelerate learning and progression within England’s elite women’s football environment. It will provide a personalised selection of development opportunities, including targeted mentoring, individual support, collaboration, and unique learning experiences from football and other high-performance settings.

“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 remarked.

“We

are

thrilled

to

be

collaborating

with

FIFA

and

WSL

Football

through

a

shared

commitment

to

creating

more

affordable

and

accessible

opportunities

for

female

coaches

across

England.

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.

Alongside

the

efforts

being

made

to

create

new

opportunities,

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."
Dan Clements, Head of Coach Development at The FA.

The initiatives are designed to unlock access to senior roles and further high-performance development opportunities. The personalised approach ensures that each coach receives targeted support aligned with their experience, environment and development objectives, rather than a one-size-fits-all model.

“Reflecting

the

realities

of

elite

competition,

this

programme

will

equip

coaches

with

the

skills

and

leadership

capabilities

required

to

succeed

at

the

highest

level

of

the

women’s

game.Tailored

learning,

mentoring

and

applied

practice

will

enable

coaches

to

make

the

step

up

and

build

the

specific

competencies

required

to

succeed

in

the

Barclays

Women’s

Super

League

and

Barclays

Women’s

Super

League

2."
Audrey Cooper, Director of Football Performance and Development at WSL Football.

FIFA is committed to growing the number of qualified female coaches and offers a comprehensive range of programmes and funding opportunities for its Member Associations worldwide.

The legacy programme of the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup is already having an impact beyond the pitch. That vision came to life at the competition’s historic opening match, where local schoolchildren and passionate Corinthians supporters came together to generate an electrifying atmosphere at Brentford Stadium on Wednesday.

Since 2021, FIFA has supported 795 female coaches across 73 Member Associations through its Coach Education Scholarship Programme. In July 2025, the organisation launched the third edition of its Elite Performance: Coach Mentorship Programme, pairing 20 of the world’s most accomplished coaches with emerging female coaching talent. Recognising the importance of sustained, holistic support,one of the pillars of the legacy programme focuses on a bespoke development pathway tailored to the demands of elite football.