Go behind the scenes of the Saudi Arabian women’s national team and senior officials of the federation to see how the sport has grown.
It was in 2019 when the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) introduced a women’s football division dedicated to professionalizing the sport and providing a platform for women and girls to pursue their dreams.
Following the establishment of the department, the SAFF introduced its first women’s competition, the Women’s Community Football League, which was the first national competition to be played on large fields and quickly became a sensation. Since its inception, women’s football has seen significant growth in the region and the second season of the Saudi Women’s Premier League will begin on October 13, 2023.
The rise of Saudi women’s football has been as impressive as it has been rapid. Less than two years after that first competition was held, the country’s newly created national team made history by playing its first match.
Al Bandary Mubarak scored Saudi Arabia’s first international women’s goal in a 2-0 win over Seychelles in February 2022, and they haven’t looked back since. In fact, their ultimate goal is to secure a place at a future Women’s World Cup.
In partnership with FIFA and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), Football co was given an all-access pass to tell the fascinating story of the women’s national team and how they are trying to inspire the country’s next generation of footballers.
Featuring interviews with a host of key players, including SAFF Women’s Department Technical Director Monika Staab and SAFF Vice President Lamia Bahaian, the new documentary reveals the journey to building an international women’s team from almost nothing.
Featuring behind-the-scenes footage of matches and the players’ personal lives, the revealing film explores what the national team means to those involved and to Saudi Arabian women in general.
Destined to play. The untold story of Saudi women’s football is now available to watch on FIFA+ (Click here).
Source: Goal