Take a closer look at the growth of women’s football in Saudi Arabia by exploring the experiences of the national team and the federation’s senior leadership. The story reveals how the sport has evolved from a budding initiative into a growing national movement.
In 2019, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) launched a dedicated women’s football division to professionalize the sport and create real opportunities for women and girls who dream of playing at higher levels. This shift marked a turning point, signaling a commitment to developing female talent and promoting gender-inclusive sport across the kingdom.
Shortly after establishing the department, SAFF introduced its inaugural women’s competition, the Women’s Community Football League. It was the first national league designed for full-field play and quickly captured the imagination of fans and participants alike. The league’s early success demonstrated tangible demand and set the stage for broader growth. As momentum built, interest in women’s football surged across the region, with the Saudi Women’s Premier League preparing for its second season scheduled to begin on October 13, 2023.
The rise of Saudi women’s football has been striking in both pace and scale. Within less than two years of the first competition, the country formed a national team that began competing at the international level, marking a historic milestone for Saudi women in sport. This rapid progress underscores a broader cultural shift and a commitment to expanding opportunities for female athletes on the world stage.
Notable milestones include Al Bandary Mubarak scoring Saudi Arabia’s first international women’s goal in a 2-0 victory over Seychelles in February 2022. The team has continued to build on that early achievement, aiming to secure qualification for a future Women’s World Cup and to serve as a beacon for aspiring players across the region.
In collaboration with FIFA and the SAFF, the documentary project offered an all-access look at the journey of the women’s national team and its role in inspiring the next generation of footballers. The film features conversations with a range of prominent figures, including Monika Staab, the Technical Director of the SAFF Women’s Department, and Lamia Bahaian, the SAFF Vice President. Their perspectives illuminate how a team formed from the ground up can become a catalyst for broader participation and belief in women’s sports in the country.
Behind-the-scenes footage reveals not only matchday dynamics but also the players’ personal commitments and daily routines, highlighting what the national team means to those involved and to Saudi women more broadly. The narrative showcases resilience, teamwork, and the everyday realities of pursuing excellence in a demanding sport, while also underscoring the social impact of these athletes as role models for girls and young women across Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Destined to play. The untold story of Saudi women’s football is now available for viewing on FIFA+ with an attribution-based feature presentation that documents the journey, the challenges, and the triumphs that have defined this groundbreaking chapter in Gulf football.