In recent years, Saudi Arabia has witnessed a transformation in women’s sports that mirrors a broader social shift. Women gained the right to drive in 2017, and access to cinema followed in the same period after decades of restriction. The national women’s league began in 2021, and by 2022 the national team had its first international outing. These milestones sketch a rapid evolution in a country hosting the Super Cup, where change feels swift and palpable. The progress of women’s football in Saudi Arabia is now a recognizable reality with a distinctly European influence, particularly a strong Spanish presence guiding development and coaching.
In December, Lluís Cortés, a coach with experience at high-profile clubs, stepped into leadership of the Saudi Arabian women’s team. Two coaches work within the top tier of the domestic league: Ana Junyent, the sole coach in her category at Al-Riyadh, and David Cabildo, who leads the Eastern Flames, Saudi Arabia’s pioneering women’s club founded in 2006 when organized women’s teams were still rare. Remarkably, Maram El Butairi, a Saudi businesswoman, and Karina Chapa, an American partner, helped create opportunities to propel the sport forward.
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The Eastern Flames FC operates in the eastern city of Dammam, the fourth-largest urban area in the country. The football infrastructure is still in its early stages, with training systems catching up to the needs of players. Cabildo notes that he has coached abroad in Italy, the United States, and other regions, and acknowledges that some players in Saudi Arabia already hold professional contracts while others are still accumulating experience. The league allows a mix of domestic and foreign players, creating a dynamic environment where remuneration and commitment from players motivate progress.
Patience is essential. Yet women’s players arrive with eagerness to learn and a genuine focus on improvement. They engage actively in discussions about training and development, displaying a proactive mindset that accelerates growth. The coach emphasizes the presence of passion within the squad, a quality he has sometimes found less common in other contexts, and he approaches Saudi Arabia with the sensitivity of a nation opening up more to the wider world in recent years.
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The experience so far has included adjustments in how the game is presented and perceived. The coach notes that while some cultural expectations influence conduct on and off the pitch, the overall progress remains steady. The domestic scene features women playing in varied attire, with families’ backgrounds shaping choices about what players wear during matches. Foreign players may arrive with different norms, but the commitment of local staff—coaches, physiotherapists, psychologists, and administrators—helps ensure professional operations. The overall tone remains pragmatic and grounded, not sensationalized.
The coach stresses that spectator interest is higher than it might appear, and recent months have shown how television and social media can amplify reach. The result is a broader awareness of women’s football in Saudi Arabia and a growing sense that the sport is becoming an integral part of the national fabric.
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A grassroots approach is taking hold to support long-term growth. The national broadcast initiative is expanding coverage of the Saudi Women’s Premier League, aligning with broader efforts across leagues to stabilize and grow the game. In contrast to more established women’s leagues, Saudi women’s football is building its identity from the ground up. Structural challenges exist, but strong leadership and strategic planning have positioned the sport as a pillar of the broader development agenda.
The leadership team views relegation avoidance and the cultivation of a solid development pipeline as priorities for immediate continuity. The Premier League remains led by prominent clubs, with Eastern Flames positioned as a central initiative in the country’s women’s football strategy. A dedicated youth system supports the senior squad, ensuring continuity and providing a path for young players as the sport gains traction across the nation.
The national federation oversees recruitment and development programs, including cooperation with international experts to advance competencies and professional standards. This collaborative approach aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives and a broader ambition to elevate women’s sports on the world stage.
There are plans to formalize three tiers within women’s football in Saudi Arabia. Although the sector emerged strongly around the 2022 World Cup window, ongoing efforts aim to sustain momentum and broaden participation, extending opportunities for girls and women to pursue competitive football across the country. This strategic rollout reflects the nation’s commitment to a resilient, inclusive approach to the sport’s future.
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When ambition is clear, progress follows quickly. The building blocks for a robust women’s football ecosystem are taking shape, echoing experiences seen in other regional hubs. The ongoing work to open up the sport to broader audiences and to refine the professional standards demonstrates a lasting dedication to transforming women’s football in the kingdom. The leadership and early adopters carry the momentum, suggesting a future where Saudi women’s football is not just a novelty but a well-established branch of national sport.