ZURICH — On Tuesday, Jill Ellis, who has led teams to victory in two Women’s World Cup tournaments, accepted a full-time position as FIFA’s chief football officer.

In her new role, Ellis will collaborate closely with Arsène Wenger, who serves as FIFA’s chief of global football development. Their partnership began in 2021, which saw Ellis at the forefront of a technical advisory group focusing on women’s soccer under the FIFA umbrella.

Ellis guided the United States to consecutive World Cup triumphs in 2015 and 2019. Alongside Wenger, she advocated for FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s initiative to increase the frequency of World Cups from every four years to every two years. However, this proposal faced strong opposition from soccer officials in Europe and South America, leading to its discontinuation.

FIFA stated that the establishment of the chief football officer role reflects its ongoing dedication to creating a diverse, inclusive, and accessible global football environment, aiming to ensure the sport remains open to everyone.

Before assuming her new position, Ellis served as president of the San Diego Wave in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The club announced her departure this week.

Club owner Lauren Leichtman expressed gratitude, noting, “Under Jill’s leadership, the Wave set a standard of excellence as an expansion club in the NWSL.”

With Ellis at the helm, the future of women’s soccer within the global framework of FIFA appears promising as she aims to champion growth and inclusivity in the sport.