Jeddah: Adding another chapter to women’s sports in Saudi Arabia, the women’s national soccer team popularly known as the “Green Falcons” is preparing for two games against Bhutan. The matches at the Amir Sultan Stadium in Abaha are the latest chapter in the transformative journey of women’s sport. These will be the third and fourth matches played by the women’s national football team since its inception in October 2021. In the inaugural matches following the formation of the Green Falcons, the team faced Seychelles and Maldives at the National Stadium in Malé, capital of the Maldives. last February. The Green Falcons won both games with a score of 2-0.
As part of the “Vision 2030”, the country aims to inspire the participation and interest of women at all levels of sport. Women’s participation in sport in the country has increased by 150 percent over the past four years. Currently 1.95,000 girls between the ages of five and 15 are actively involved in weekly sports activities. As the number one sport in the country, women’s football is one of the seven key strategic priorities of the Saudi Arabian Football Association.
With unprecedented investments in areas such as grassroots, player development, training, facilities, competitions and administration, the federation plans to increase interest and participation at all levels of the women’s game. The final plan is to open multiple new regional training centers and offer new opportunities to more than a thousand girls in every corner of the country. Today there are 450 registered players, 49 qualified referees and more than 800 licensed D, C and B coaches in the country.
Last year, the country named Monica Staub, a member of the German team, as its first female coach. Last year, the first regional women’s football championship was organized with 16 teams. A new eight-team Premier League will be introduced next month. There are currently 25 women’s soccer teams in the country in both divisions.
The host Saudi team won the silver medal at the West Asian Football Association’s 3rd Women’s Soccer Championship held in Jeddah. The Saudi Arabian Football Association is bidding to host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2026.
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