Saudi Arabia
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
Top scorerAl Bandari Mobarak (6)
FIFA codeKSA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 175 Decrease 3 (15 December 2023)[1]
Highest170 (June 2023)
Lowest175 (December 2023)
First international
 Saudi Arabia 2–0 Seychelles 
(Malé, Maldives, 20 February 2022)
Biggest win
 Saudi Arabia 3–0 Syria 
(Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 12 January 2024)
Biggest defeat
 Andorra 3–0 Saudi Arabia 
(Peralada, 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

Background

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

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

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

2023

11 January 2023 2023 SAFF Women's Friendly Tournament Saudi Arabia  1–0  Mauritius Khobar, Saudi Arabia
20:30 UTC+3 Al-Tamimi 44' (pen.) Report Stadium: Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium
Referee: Shahenda Saad Ali ElMaghrabi (Egypt)
15 January 2023 2023 SAFF Women's Friendly Tournament Saudi Arabia  2–0  Comoros Khobar, Saudi Arabia
20:30 UTC+3
Report Stadium: Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium
Referee: Shahenda Saad Ali ElMaghrabi (Egypt)
22 February 2023 Friendly Saudi Arabia  1–1  Indonesia Dammam, Saudi Arabia
18:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium
Referee: Veronika Bernatskaia (Kyrgyzstan)
26 February 2023 Friendly Saudi Arabia  0–1  Indonesia Dammam, Saudi Arabia
18:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium
11 May 2023 Friendly Saudi Arabia  1–1  Palestine Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
19:00 UTC+3
  • Miral 69'
 Stadium: Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium
13 June 2023 Friendly Saudi Arabia  1–3  Andorra Peralada, Spain
  • Gonçalves 6'
  • Ruzafa 19'
  • Morato 45'
 Stadium: Estadi Municipal De Peralada
17 June 2023 Friendly Saudi Arabia  0–3  Andorra Peralada, Spain
 Stadium: Estadi Municipal De Peralada
27 September 2023 2023 SAFF Women's Friendly Tournament Saudi Arabia  0–1 (a.e.t.)  Bhutan Taif, Saudi Arabia
20:30 UTC+3
  • Bidha 112'
 Stadium: King Fahd Sports City
Referee: Nodira Mirzoeva (Tajikistan)

2024

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
  • N. Saud Yellow card 43'
  • Mobarak 45+1', 76', 82'
 Report
  • R. Ibrahim Yellow card 63'
 Referee: Doumouh Al Bakkar (Lebanon)

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

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

Players

Current squad

The following 28 players were called up for Jeddah camp to face Syria in two friendlies from 3–13 January 2023.[18]

Caps and goals correct as of 12 January 2024

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
30 1GK Reem Al-Beloshi (2001-01-21) 21 January 2001 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
22 1GK Salma Al-Dowsri (2002-11-07) 7 November 2002 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
1 1GK Sara Khalid (1996-08-02) 2 August 1996 12 0 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
21 1GK Mona Abdulrahman (1996-10-27) 27 October 1996 7 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
2 2DF Bayan Sadagah (1994-11-15) 15 November 1994 19 1 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
3 2DF Leen Mohammed (2003-03-22) 22 March 2003 13 1 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
16 2DF Huriyyah Al-Shamrani (2004-07-14) 14 July 2004 8 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
12 2DF Shuruq Al-Hawsawi (1994-11-25) 25 November 1994 7 0 Saudi Arabia Al Hilal
23 2DF Raghad Mukhayzin (1996-10-24) 24 October 1996 18 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
26 2DF Tahani Al-Yunbaawi (1995-10-01) 1 October 1995 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
17 2DF Nouf Saud (2000-11-07) 7 November 2000 1 0 Saudi Arabia Al Hilal
4 2DF Talah Al-Ghamdi (1999-11-18) 18 November 1999 15 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
13 2DF Aseel Ahmed (1996-03-25) 25 March 1996 2 0 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
15 3MF Moudi Abdulmohsen (2001-09-20) 20 September 2001 3 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
18 3MF Al Jawharah Saud (2000-09-10) 10 September 2000 2 0 Saudi Arabia Al Hilal
27 3MF Juri Al-Johani (2005-11-27) 27 November 2005 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al Hilal
10 3MF Seba Tawfiq (2005-01-13) 13 January 2005 9 1 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
5 3MF Lana Abdulrazak (2005-05-22) 22 May 2005 19 1 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
8 3MF Sara Hamad (1992-06-27) 27 June 1992 19 0 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
6 3MF Athaa Fahad (1996-03-13) 13 March 1996 7 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
24 4FW Moluk Al-Hawsawi (2005-01-10) 10 January 2005 1 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
14 4FW Juri Tariq (2003-03-13) 13 March 2003 15 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
7 4FW Mubarkh Mohammed (1998-12-19) 19 December 1998 10 0 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
11 4FW Fatimah Mansour (2007-12-10) 10 December 2007 13 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
20 4FW Abeer Nasser (1998-09-14) 14 September 1998 2 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
9 4FW Albandari Mubarak (2001-12-09) 9 December 2001 14 10 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
25 4FW Dalal Abdulwasi (1995-01-13) 13 January 1995 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr
19 4FW Al Bandari Al-Hwsawi (1993-05-09) 9 May 1993 11 1 Saudi Arabia Al Hilal

Recent call-ups

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 Hessa Al-Sudairy (1985-03-22) 22 March 1985 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad v.  Malaysia, 30 September 2023
GK Nawal Al-Gelaish (1997-01-24) 24 January 1997 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al Hilal v.  Malaysia, 30 September 2023
GK Laila Ali (2000-09-25) 25 September 2000 1 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab v.  Andorra, 17 June 2023
DF Dalal Abdullatif (1994-09-17) 17 September 1994 5 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab v.  Malaysia, 30 September 2023
DF Muneerah Ahmed (1995-04-24) 24 April 1995 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab v.  Malaysia, 30 September 2023
MF Renad Al-Sofyani (2001-05-18) 18 May 2001 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli v.  Malaysia, 30 September 2023
MF Layan Jouhari (2001-01-12) 12 January 2001 7 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad v.  Malaysia, 30 September 2023
MF Rahf Al-Mansury (1997-04-25) 25 April 1997 1 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli v.  Malaysia, 30 September 2023
MF Tahani Al-Zahrani (1996-02-11) 11 February 1996 3 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab v.  Malaysia, 30 September 2023
MF Mariam Al-Tamimi (2004-12-08) 8 December 2004 8 3 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad v.  Malaysia, 18 September 2023INJ
MF Rema Al-Thakafi (1998-12-24) 24 December 1998 1 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli v.  Andorra, 17 June 2023
MF Majd Al-Otaibi 2006 (age 17) 1 0 Saudi Arabia Al Hilal v.  Andorra, 17 June 2023
MF Raghad Helmi (1997-08-03) 3 August 1997 3 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab v.  Indonesia, 26 February 2023
MF Hala Khashoggi (1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 0 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad 2023 SAFF Women's Friendly Tournament
FW Ameera Abu Al-Samh (1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 6 0 Saudi Arabia v.  Malaysia, 30 September 2023
FW Daliah Abu Laban (1995-04-04) 4 April 1995 6 1 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli v.  Malaysia, 30 September 2023
FW Noura Ibrahim (1998-09-17) 17 September 1998 14 3 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab v.  Malaysia, 30 September 2023
FW Fadwa Khaled (2005-01-25) 25 January 2005 2 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli v.  Bhutan, 27 September 2023

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

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

Competitive record

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

Asian Games record
Hosts / Year Result GP W D* L GS GA GD
China 1990did not enter
Japan 1994
1998
South Korea 2002
Qatar 2006
China 2010
South Korea 2014
Indonesia 2018
China 2022
Japan 2026To be decided
Qatar 2030
Saudi Arabia 2034Qualified as host
Total0/10———————
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Head-to-head record

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
 Andorra200216–50.00UEFA
 Bhutan201157–20.00AFC
 Indonesia201112–10.00AFC
 Pakistan10101100.00AFC
 Palestine20201100.00AFC
 Maldives110020+2100.00AFC
 Seychelles110020+2100.00CAF
 Mauritius110010+1100.00CAF
 Comoros110020+2100.00CAF
Total134541617-130.76—

Last updated: Saudi Arabia vs Andorra, 17 June2023.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  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. 1 2 3 "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. ↑ "(28) لاعبة ضمن قائمة كورتيس لمعسكر المنتخب الوطني الأول للسيدات" [(28) Player included in Cortes' list for the senior national women's team camp.]. saff.com.sa (in Arabic). Saudi Football Federation. 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
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