Barcelona is racing against the clock, as the Liga F titan asked FIFA for an extension meet its new gender staffing rules ahead of January’s Champions Cup.
Since March, FIFA has required each club to employ at least two women staffers at its sanctioned events, with at least one filling a head or assistant coach role.
Barcelona lists women on its medical staff but none under head coach Pere Romeu, with the team telling The Athletic its hiring search is ongoing.
The mandate aims to close the sideline gender gap ahead of next summer’s World Cup, after just 12 of 23 teams were led by women in 2023.
Barcelona opens its Champions Cup run on January 27th in Miami. The 2025/26 UWCL champion joins Liga MX’s Club América Femenil and two other federation representatives in the global club semifinals.
