Brazil establishes permanent guidelines for women’s soccer

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed legislation on September 28, 2025, to establish permanent national guidelines for the development of women's soccer in Brazil. Law No. 15,522 outlines responsibilities for the Brazilian Soccer Confederation (CBF), soccer clubs, and other entities. President Lula emphasized the importance of women's representation in all sectors, including sports.

The law requires clubs training young athletes to maintain a women's team and grants sports organizations promoting women's soccer the same rights and benefits as those promoting men's soccer. The Ministry of Sports will promote girls' participation, strengthen youth competitions, and support professional and youth teams' creation and maintenance.

It will also work with clubs and CBF to prevent and combat racism, discrimination, prejudice, and violence against women in all aspects of the sport. The ministry aims to encourage partnerships between schools, universities, and clubs to identify and develop new talent in women's soccer and support women's employment in various roles within the game.

The law also amends the Law on Public Limited Soccer Companies (SAF), mandating that a club seeking SAF status must have both men's and women's soccer programs or women's soccer only. This change provides legal support for the growth of professional athletes in women's soccer. The Executive Branch submitted the bill to the National Congress in September 2025, and it passed through legislative stages by September 2, 2025, receiving final approval from President Lula.

The law was enacted in connection with the 2027 Women's World Cup, scheduled for June 24 to July 25, 2027, in multiple Brazilian cities.