Head Coaching Gender Imbalance in International Football

The play at the Women’s World Cup never disappoints! The skill level is inspiring, the team play an example, and the camaraderie uplifting. The spotlight should most especially be on the talented players, but there is an important piece of gender inequality that should not go unnoticed.

Of the competing teams, 62% have male head coaches. I don’t doubt that all of the head coaches (both men and women) are qualified, knowledgeable, and talented. Here's a question though - In the Men’s 2018 World Cup how many of the head coaches were women? 0%. In fact, there has never been a woman head coach of a Men’s World Cup team. So why is it that 62% are male head coaches for the 2019 Women’s World Cup final teams, and 0% of female head coaches for the Men’s World Cup final teams? The fact is all of the current women head coaches in this World Cup could be leading teams in the men’s game. They are as inspiring, knowledgeable, and tactically skilled as their male counterparts, if not more so.

Again let’s enjoy this amazing competition, and put the spotlight on the talents of the women players! Yet the world of football can improve, and set a bold and progressive example not just for sport, but for international society as a whole. That would be a cup all countries could embrace and collectively hold high!