FOLLOWING her first meeting with football’s world governing body’s top brass in Qatar, Jamaica’s Carlene Edwards was left excited as she sat amongst FIFA elites sharing ideas on how to improve the women’s game.

Edwards, who along with Jamaica Football Federation President Michael Ricketts and Rudolph Speid was in October appointed to various FIFA committees, arrived in Qatar on December 15 and left on December 19.

“Looking ahead, I’m excited to contribute to decisions that will shape women’s national team competitions globally while ensuring that the perspectives of Jamaica and the wider Caribbean continue to be represented at this level,” Edwards told the Jamaica Observer.

Edwards is a part of the 20-member Women’s National Team Competitions Committee, chaired by Sun Wen of China, with Anne Rei of Estonia as the deputy chairperson.

The role of the committee is to oversee the organisation of FIFA competitions, in compliance with the provisions of the respective competitions’ regulations as well as the relevant hosting documents and hosting requirements.

The committee will also advise and assist with possible modifications to existing competitions as well as the possible introduction of any new competitions, and advise on and assist with any other FIFA competitions-related matters. It will focus mainly on the Women’s World Cup and any other senior women’s national team competitions organised by FIFA.

“My first meeting in Qatar was a very meaningful experience and one that Jamaica can truly capitalise on, particularly with three Jamaicans now serving on separate FIFA standing committees,” she pointed out.

“Being in Qatar for the first time and hearing directly from FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other key stakeholders helped to clearly frame the purpose of the committees and reinforce FIFA’s vision of making football truly global,” Edwards added.

Edwards, a marketing and communications expert and the individual behind Jamaica’s successful club licensing programme, says she is excited to learn and also give Jamaica a voice at the highest stage in decision-making for women’s football.

“I had the opportunity to meet and engage with all 19 members of the Women’s National Team Competitions Committee and to receive our formal terms of reference, which set a clear direction for the work ahead,” said Edwards.

However, her assignment wasn’t all in the boardroom as she got the opportunity to attend major international matches, including the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and CR Flamengo, as well as the FIFA Arab Cup final between Morocco and Jordan.

“Experiencing these matches first-hand highlighted the power of high-level competition, fan engagement, and tournament delivery,” said Edwards.

Other members of the committee include FIFA Council Delegate Mria Sol Munoz of Ecuador, Monique Andre (Haiti), Noelia Barrios (Paraguay), Sue Day (England), Malika Diakete (Cote d’Ivoire), Celine Eko (Cameroon), Isabel Hochstoger (Austria), and Rose Paia (Solomon Islands).

Other members are Uzbekistan’s Yuliya Panina, Aline Pellegrino (Brazil), Examin Philbert (St Lucia), Maris Schossow (Panama), Susan Shalabi (Palestine), Mariem Tall (Mauritania), Anastasia Tsichlas (South Africa), Heike Ullrich (Germany), and Suraya Yaacob (Malaysia).

The committee will meet twice a year, once in person and virtually on the other occasion.

FIFA Women’s National Team Competitions Committee member Carlene Edwards (right) shares a moment with former Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger during a FIFA meeting in Doha, Qatar, on December 16, 2025.