Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in the realm of women’s football over the past five years, despite starting from almost scratch. Organized women’s football in the country was virtually non-existent until a league was established with the aim of promoting female participation in sports, given the country’s historical restrictions on women’s rights.
The women’s national football team, which played its first game just last year, is now setting its sights on qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has submitted a bid to host the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup. This week, the new season of the Saudi Women’s Premier League kicks off, marking another milestone in the development of women’s football in the nation.
While there has been progress, advocates for women’s rights argue that Saudi Arabia still has a long way to go, even with these reforms. Human rights groups have criticized the Saudi government for using sports as a distraction from ongoing reputation issues and have accused it of “sportswashing” by investing in high-profile sporting events.
Despite these challenges, those involved in the growth of women’s football in Saudi Arabia remain optimistic about the opportunities ahead. Layan Jouhari, who plays for Jeddah club Al-Ittihad and the national team, expressed her excitement at the prospect of representing her country at the World Cup.
The journey for women’s football in Saudi Arabia began with the opening of stadiums to women in 2018. In 2019, the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) established a women’s department. Monika Staab, the first coach of the national team, played a crucial role in building the team. In March 2022, the team won their first-ever game in the Seychelles.
Staab, now the technical director of the women’s game at SAFF, commended the country’s strong support for women’s football, stating that she had not witnessed such backing from the FA and the nation in her extensive coaching career around the world.
Despite aspirations for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, Staab emphasized the need for realistic expectations and the importance of developing youth teams to compete in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Saudi Arabia’s progress in women’s football is undeniably significant, but it remains a complex and evolving journey marked by both promise and challenges.
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