FIFA has taken another step in reinforcing the protection of women in football, focusing on players and coaches in key areas such as parenthood, health, and well-being. The changes, effective June 1, “expand the scope of rights and protection to include adoption” and aim to acknowledge “the physical, psychological, and social dimensions in cases of inability to work due to heavy menstruation or medical complications related to pregnancy,” the organization emphasized.

Three years after establishing a minimum 14-week paid maternity leave for players, these are the major changes announced by the world's football governing body:

- The right to a minimum 14-week paid maternity leave, implemented three years ago for players, is now extended to coaches as well;

- An adoption leave is introduced. Players and coaches will be entitled to a minimum of eight weeks of paid leave if they adopt a child under the age of two. This paid leave period is reduced to four weeks for a child between two and four years old, and to two weeks for a child over four years old;

- Family leave is granted to players or coaches who are not the biological mother of the child. This paid leave lasts a minimum of eight weeks;

- Clubs can now register a player outside the regular period to temporarily replace a player on maternity, adoption, or family leave. Similarly, players returning to the sport after any of the mentioned leaves can also be registered outside the enrollment period;

- Players can now request absence from training and/or games for menstrual health reasons while maintaining full pay;

- Clubs are encouraged to provide an environment that allows the reconciliation of a professional sports career and family life.