Saudi Arabia and Women's Football

"Ibrahim Al Kassim, Secretary-General of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) , highlights the vital role of unlimited support from the wise leadership and continuous follow-up from the Ministry of Sports in making the Kingdom an attractive destination for regional and international sporting events, such as the FIFA Advanced Program for Development 'FIFA FORWARD'. This support has enabled the growth of football in the Kingdom and allowed us to showcase our commitment to sports development on a global stage. #SaudiArabia #SportsDevelopment #FIFAForward"

Lamia Bahaian, Supervisor of the Women’s Football Department and SAFF board member, reflected on the historic moment of the Saudi Arabian women's football team entering the FIFA Rankings after 18 months of establishment: "Our national team made history when it was established 18 months ago, and since then their journey has inspired millions across Saudi Arabia and the region. Entering the FIFA Rankings has been the moment we’ve been building up towards, and signals just the beginning of what we want to achieve with these girls."

SAFF President Yasser Al Misehal also expressed admiration for the team's incredible achievements in just a year and a half: "What these girls achieved in just a matter of a year and a half has been nothing short of incredible."

Aalia Al Rasheed, Managing Director of the Women’s Football Department at the SAFF, shared her pride in the development of women's football in Saudi Arabia during a program for female leaders in Lausanne, saying, "You can’t imagine how proud I am to be involved in the development of women’s football in Saudi Arabia and see the tremendous growth it has experienced since its early days."

The development of women's football in Saudi Arabia is a part of broader social change. The country has established a first and second-tier women's league, including a total of 25 teams, created regional training centers for girls aged six to 17, introduced an U-17 women's side, and has over 1,000 coaches and almost 50,000 girls participating in the schools league. The number of referees has increased by 66% and the number of clubs by 56% in a short period of time, demonstrating the rapid growth of the sport. Saudi Arabia serves as a shining example of how football can inspire social development and change.

Smart Runners is on a mission to pave the pathway of youth generation and women's football and unlock their potential to become pro by providing a data-driven panel for club's Analytics, Recruiting and scouting purposes

All Photos are excerpt from FIFA.com