Bareman will head up the newly-established women’s football division within the governing body, created as part of FIFA’s extensive reform process.

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) deputy security general was the only female member of the FIFA Reform Committee, chaired by François Carrard, and played a key role in creating more high-level positions for women at the organisation.

“Greater recognition and promotion of women in football” was among the sweeping changes in FIFA’s reform package, passed at the body’s Congress in Mexico City in May.

Under the rule, a minimum of one woman must be elected onto FIFA’s ruling Council in each of the Confederations.

FIFA has also taken the unprecedented step of choosing their first female and first African secretary general – Fatma Samoura – who was officially appointed at the Congress.

Bareman will officially begin her new position on November 14, FIFA confirmed, and she will report to FIFA deputy secretary general Zvonimir Boban, the former Croatia international who scored 12 goals in 51 appearances for his country.

She will also take up a place on the FIFA Management Board.

Bareman has extensive experience working in football administration and served as chief executive of the Samoan Football Association from 2011 to 2014, where she was responsible for overhauling its financial management and carrying out strategic rebuilding.

The New Zealander, who played for the Samoan women’s team during her career, then went on to become operations manager at the OFC.

“Building on FIFA’s commitment to further support and promote the development of women’s football as well as women in football, Sarai brings a background in finance and football administration to the role of chief women’s football officer,” a FIFA statement read.

“As the only female member of FIFA’s 2016 Reform Committee, Sarai was a strong advocate for change within the organisation, in particular calling for concrete requirements on women in leadership positions at FIFA.”

Bareman becomes the latest to fill a newly-created role at FIFA after Philippe Le Floc’h, a former UEFA executive, was selected as chief commercial officer earlier this month.

It comes amid FIFA's attempt to rebuild its image and improve its governance following the corruption scandal which has engulfed the governing body in recent years.