Jeddah: Adding another chapter to women’s sports in Saudi Arabia, the women’s national football team popularly known as the ‘Green Falcons’ is gearing up for two matches against Bhutan. The games at the Amir Sultan Stadium in Abaha are the latest chapter in the transformative journey of women’s sports. This will be the third and fourth matches played by the women’s national football team since its establishment in October 2021. In the opening matches after the formation of the Green Falcons, the team faced the Seychelles and the Maldives in Malé National Stadium, the capital of the Maldives, last February. The Green Falcons won both games with a score of 2-0.
As part of ‘Vision 2030’, the country aims to inspire women’s participation and interest in sport at all levels. Women’s participation in sports in the country has increased by 150 percent in the last four years. 1,95,000 girls between the ages of five and 15 are currently actively involved in weekly sporting activities. As the main sport in the country, women’s football is one of the seven key strategic priorities of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
With unprecedented investments in areas such as grassroots, player development, coaching, facilities, competitions and administration, the federation has plans to increase interest and participation at all levels of the women’s game. The ultimate plan is to open a number of new regional training centers and provide new opportunities for more than a thousand girls in every corner of the country. Today there are 450 registered female players, 49 qualified referees and more than 800 licensed D, C and B coaches in the country.
Last year, the country appointed German team member Monica Staub as its first female coach. Last year, the first regional women’s football league was organized with 16 teams. A new eight-team Premier League will be introduced next month. There are currently 25 women’s football clubs in the country across the two divisions.
The Saudi host team won the silver medal in the 3rd West Asian Football Federation Women’s Football Championship held in Jeddah. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation is bidding to host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2026.
