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Saudi Arabia women's national football team

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This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Saudi Arabia national football team.

Saudi Arabia
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)الصقور الخضر (The Green Falcons)
الصقور العربية (The Arabian Falcons)
AssociationSaudi Arabian Football Federation
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Sub-confederationWAFF (West Asia)
Head coachLluís Cortés
CaptainBayan Sadagah
Most capsLana Abdulrazak
Sara Al-Hamad
Bayan Sadagah (22)
Top scorerAl Bandari Mobarak (10)
FIFA codeKSA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 174 Increase 1 (16 August 2024)[1]
Highest170 (June 2023)
Lowest175 (December 2023 – June 2024)
First international
 Saudi Arabia 2–0 Seychelles 
(Malé, Maldives, 20 February 2022)
Biggest win
 Saudi Arabia 4–0 Laos 
(Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 29 October 2024)
Biggest defeat
 Andorra 3–0 Saudi Arabia 
(Girona, Spain, 17 June 2023)

The Saudi Arabia women's national football team (Arabic: المنتخب السعودي لكرة القدم للسيدات) is the official women's national football team of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The team is controlled by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), the governing body for football in Saudi Arabia.

Colloquially called "the Green Falcons", Saudi Arabia played their first match in 2022 against the Seychelles in a 2–0 win in a friendly tournament in the Maldives.

History

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Saudi Arabia women's national football team against Moldova in Kirchberg am Wagram, Austria (2024)
Main article: Women's football in Saudi Arabia

Background

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Due to the influence of religious leaders in Saudi Arabia, active opposition of political leaders and sport administrators, and systematic discrimination against women's sport, a women's national team could not exist for a long time.[2] The creation of a FIFA-recognised women's national team was banned by law in 2008.[3] Systemic discrimination remained intact despite limited reforms, until the death of King Abdullah in 2015.[4]

With King Salman's ascension to the throne in 2015, talks about football reforms escalated. However, his son Mohammed bin Salman was the first to spearhead the reforms, including to women's football.[5] Saudi Arabia allowed women to attend football games since 2017, the first step for a future creation of a women's football team.[6]

In December 2019, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) organised the first unofficial women's competition in the Jeddah area.[7] An official nationwide tournament, the amateur Saudi Women's Football League, was launched in February 2020, concentrated in three big cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.[8] Following the creation of the league, calls for a creation of a women's national team increased.[9]

Inception

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On 11 August 2021, the SAFF appointed Monika Staab as head coach of the newly established women's national team.[10] Saudi Arabia played their first games in February 2022, taking part in a friendly tournament in Malé, Maldives.[11] They debuted on 20 February, beating Seychelles in a 2–0 win.[12] Following the successful debut, Lamia Bin Bahian, a board member of the SAFF, revealed a long-term plan to allow the team to participate in the first FIFA Women's World Cup in the next ten years, with the aim to become a dominant force in the Gulf, West Asia, and Asian level.[13]

Results and fixtures

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Main article: Saudi Arabia women's national football team results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.[14][15]

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2024

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8 January 2024 Friendly Saudi Arabia  2–0  Syria Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
18:00 UTC+3
Report Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City
12 January 2024 Friendly Saudi Arabia  3–0  Syria Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
18:00 UTC+3
Report
Referee: Doumouh Al Bakkar (Lebanon)
19 February 2024 2024 WAFF Women's Championship Saudi Arabia  1–3  Jordan Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
20:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City
Referee: Mohamed Juma (Bahrain)
21 February 2024 2024 WAFF Women's Championship Lebanon  3–2  Saudi Arabia Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
20:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium
Referee: Ahmed Gatea (Iraq)
23 February 2024 2024 WAFF Women's Championship Saudi Arabia  0–2  Guam Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
20:00 UTC+3 Report Anaya 21', 42' Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium
Referee: Alesar Baddour (Syria)
7 August 2024 Friendly Saudi Arabia  0–1  Moldova Ostrava-Vítkovice, Czechia
17:30 UTC+2 Report (FMF) Său 54' Stadium: Městský stadion
11 August 2024 Friendly Saudi Arabia  0–1  Moldova Kirchberg am Wagram, Austria
20:00 UTC+2 Report (FMF)
Stadium: Sportpark Kirchberg/Wagram
23 October 2024 (2024-10-23) Friendly Saudi Arabia  0–0  Malaysia Dubai, United Arab Emirates
--:-- UTC+3 Stadium: Police Officers' Club Stadium
29 October 2024 (2024-10-29) Friendly Saudi Arabia  4–0  Laos Dubai, United Arab Emirates
19:00 UTC+3
Stadium: Police Officers' Club Stadium
29 November 2024 (2024-11-29) Friendly Palestine  v  Saudi Arabia Doha, Qatar
19:00 UTC+3 Stadium: Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium
3 December 2024 (2024-12-03) Friendly Saudi Arabia  v  Palestine Doha, Qatar
19:00 UTC+3 Stadium: Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium

Head-to-head record

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Key
  Positive balance (more wins than losses)
  Neutral balance (as many wins as losses)
  Negative balance (more losses than wins)

The following table shows Saudi Arabia's all-time official international record per opponent:

Opponent Pld W D L GF GA GD W% Confederation
 Andorra 2 0 0 2 1 6 –5 0.00 UEFA
 Bhutan 3 0 1 2 5 8 –3 0.00 AFC
 Comoros 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 100.00 CAF
 Indonesia 2 0 1 1 1 2 –1 0.00 AFC
 Malaysia 2 0 1 1 0 1 –1 0.00 AFC
 Maldives 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 100.00 AFC
 Mauritius 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 100.00 CAF
 Pakistan 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 50.00 AFC
 Palestine 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 0.00 AFC
 Seychelles 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 100.00 CAF
 Syria 2 2 0 0 5 0 +5 100.00 AFC
Total 19 7 6 6 22 19 +3 36.84 —

Last updated: Saudi Arabia vs Syria, 12 January 2024.[15]

Coaching staff

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Current coaching staff

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As of 11 February 2023
Role Name
Head coach Spain Lluís Cortés[16]
Assistant coach Saudi Arabia Dona Rajab
Switzerland Sandra Kalin
Slovakia Martin Pacholek
Goalkeeping coach Germany Catherine Lingert
Team administrator Saudi Arabia Dalia Al-Obeikan
Saudi Arabia Intisar Al-Qahtan
Video analyst Australia Donna Newberry
Team manager Saudi Arabia Beren Sadaqa

Manager history

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Players

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Main article: List of Saudi Arabia women's international footballers
Main category: Saudi Arabia women's international footballers

Current squad

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Caps and goals correct as of 23 February 2024 after the match against  Guam

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Sara Khalid (1996-08-02) 2 August 1996 (age 28) 14 0 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
21 1GK Mona Abdulrahman (1996-10-27) 27 October 1996 (age 28) 8 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
22 1GK Reem Al-Bloushi (2001-01-21) 21 January 2001 (age 23) 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
2 2DF Bayan Sadagah (1994-11-15) 15 November 1994 (age 30) 22 1 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
3 2DF Nouf Saud (2000-11-07) 7 November 2000 (age 24) 4 0 Saudi Arabia Al Hilal
4 2DF Talah Al-Ghamdi (1999-11-18) 18 November 1999 (age 25) 16 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
5 2DF Lana Abdulrazak (2005-05-22) 22 May 2005 (age 19) 22 2 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
6 2DF Layan Jouhari (2001-01-12) 12 January 2001 (age 23) 7 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
12 2DF Shuruq Al-Hwsawi (1994-11-25) 25 November 1994 (age 29) 8 0 Saudi Arabia Al Hilal
13 2DF Aseel Ahmed (1996-03-25) 25 March 1996 (age 28) 1 0 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
23 2DF Raghad Mukhayzin (1996-10-24) 24 October 1996 (age 28) 21 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
24 2DF Hala Khashoggi (1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 (age 25) 3 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
25 2DF Leen Mohammed (2003-03-22) 22 March 2003 (age 21) 15 2 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
7 3MF Mubarkh Mohammed (1998-12-19) 19 December 1998 (age 25) 13 0 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
8 3MF Sara Hamad (1992-06-27) 27 June 1992 (age 32) 22 0 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
10 3MF Seba Tawfiq (2005-01-13) 13 January 2005 (age 19) 12 2 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
11 3MF Fatimah Mansour (2007-12-10) 10 December 2007 (age 16) 15 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
15 3MF Moudi Abdulmohsen (2001-09-20) 20 September 2001 (age 23) 5 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
16 3MF Huriyyah Al-Shamrani (2004-07-14) 14 July 2004 (age 20) 8 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
18 3MF Adda Al-Fahad (1996-03-13) 13 March 1996 (age 28) 10 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
19 3MF Mariam Al-Tamimi (2004-12-08) 8 December 2004 (age 19) 8 3 Saudi Arabia Al-Ula
26 3MF Rahaf Al-Mansouri (1997-04-25) 25 April 1997 (age 27) 1 0 Saudi Arabia Al Qadsiah
9 4FW Al Bandari Mobarak (2001-12-09) 9 December 2001 (age 22) 17 10 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
14 4FW Joury Tarek (2003-03-13) 13 March 2003 (age 21) 17 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
17 4FW Fadwa Khaled (2005-01-25) 25 January 2005 (age 19) 2 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
20 4FW Shaima Belal (1999-07-11) 11 July 1999 (age 25) 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ula

Recent call-ups

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The following players have been called up to the squad in the past 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Salma Al-Dowsri (2002-11-07) 7 November 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al Qadsiah v.  Syria, 12 January 2024
DF Asrar Al-Shaibani (1995-07-23) 23 July 1995 (age 29) 2 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad v.  Moldova, 11 August 2024
DF Tahani Al-Yunbaawi (1995-10-01) 1 October 1995 (age 29) 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr v.  Syria, 12 January 2024
MF Al Jawharah Saud (2000-09-10) 10 September 2000 (age 24) 2 0 Saudi Arabia Al Hilal 2024 WAFF Women's ChampionshipINJ
MF Juri Al-Johani (2005-11-27) 27 November 2005 (age 18) 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al Hilal v.  Moldova, 11 August 2024
MF Majd Al-Otaibi (2006-12-04) 4 December 2006 (age 17) 1 0 Saudi Arabia Al Hilal v.  Moldova, 11 August 2024
MF Lulu Al-Obaid (2004-10-26) 26 October 2004 (age 20) 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al Hilal v.  Moldova, 11 August 2024
MF Noura Ibrahim (1998-09-17) 17 September 1998 (age 26) 17 3 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab v.  Guam, 23 February 2024
FW Ameera Abualsamh (age 17) 6 0 Canada McMaster Marauders v.  Moldova, 11 August 2024
FW Moluk Al-Hawsawi (2005-01-10) 10 January 2005 (age 19) 2 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli v.  Guam, 23 February 2024
FW Haya Al-Sunaidi (2001-08-30) 30 August 2001 (age 23) 1 0 Saudi Arabia Al Qadsiah v.  Guam, 23 February 2024
FW Abeer Nasser (1998-09-14) 14 September 1998 (age 26) 2 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab v.  Guam, 23 February 2024
FW Al Bandari Al-Hwsawi (1993-05-09) 9 May 1993 (age 31) 11 1 Saudi Arabia Al Hilal v.  Syria, 12 January 2024
FW Dalal Abdulwasi (1995-01-13) 13 January 1995 (age 29) 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr v.  Syria, 12 January 2024

INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
PRE Preliminary squad.
SUS Player is serving a suspension.
WD Player withdrew for personal reasons.

Records

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  • Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 8 January 2024.[15]

Competitive record

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So far, the team hasn't competed in the FIFA Women's World Cup, the Olympic Games, the Arab Women's Cup, the WAFF Women's Championship or the AFC Women's Asian Cup. They also haven't competed at the Asian Games yet, but as hosts for the 2034 edition they are automatically qualified.

Asian Games

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Main article: Saudi Arabia at the Asian Games
Asian Games record
Hosts / Year Result GP W D* L GS GA GD
China 1990 did not enter
Japan 1994
1998
South Korea 2002
Qatar 2006
China 2010
South Korea 2014
Indonesia 2018
China 2022
Japan 2026 To be decided
Qatar 2030
Saudi Arabia 2034 Qualified as host
Total 0/10 — — — — — — —
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Hijabs approved for soccer players by FIFA – Montreal – CBC News". Cbc.ca. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  3. ^ "Women's football". New Statesman. 137: 20. 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  4. ^ "Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia After King Abdullah".
  5. ^ "Salman: Rave in desert, women drivers: How Saudi is undergoing sweeping changes under Prince Salman – Times of India". The Times of India. 26 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Saudi Arabia reforms open turnstiles to female football fans". Financial Times. 12 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Jeddah Eagles flying high with women's football win". Arab News. 9 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Saudi Arabia launches a soccer league for women". CNN. 27 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Arab nations cannot afford to ignore the rise of women's football". 29 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Monika Staab appointed coach of Saudi women's national football team". Arab News. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Saudi Arabian women's national team set for historic international debut in Maldives". Orbital Affairs. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Saudi women's national football team beat Seychelles in historic international win". Arab News. 20 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  13. ^ (AR)لمياء بن بهيان: نخطط لمشاركة منتخب السعودية للسيدات في كأس العالم خلال 10 أعوام
  14. ^ "Women's National Team (2024)". Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF). Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  15. ^ a b c "Saudi Arabia – Team Info". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Former Barcelona manager Lluis Cortes named Saudi Arabia women's head coach". theathletic.com. Charlotte Harpur. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Who's Who: Monika Staab, new coach of the Saudi women's national football team". arabnews.com. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  18. ^ "الاتحاد السعودي يقدم شكره لمدربة منتخب السيدات روزا لابي بعد انتهاء مدة عقدها - الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم".
  19. ^ "من هو لويس كورتيس المدرب الجديد لأخضر السيدات؟".
  20. ^ "المنتخب الوطني للسيدات يبدأ معسكره الإعدادي في مدينة دبي" [The women's national team begins its training camp in Dubai.]. saff.com.sa (in Arabic). Saudi Arabian Football Federation. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
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