Saudi Arabia women's national football team

Saudi Arabia
Nickname(s)	الصقور الخضر (The Green Falcons); الصقور العربية (The Arabian Falcons)
Association	Saudi Arabian Football Federation
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation	WAFF (West Asia)
Head coach	Rosa Lappi-Seppälä
Captain	Bayan Sadagah
Top scorer	Al Bandari Mobarak (6)
FIFA code	KSA
First colours	Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	172 2 (25 August 2023)[1]
Highest	170 (June 2023)
Lowest	172 (August 2023)
First international
	Saudi Arabia 2–0 Seychelles ; (Malé, Maldives, 20 February 2022)
Biggest win
	Saudi Arabia 2–0 Seychelles ; (Malé, Maldives, 20 February 2022); Maldives 0–2 Saudi Arabia ; (Malé, Maldives, 24 February 2022); Saudi Arabia 2–0 Comoros ; (Khobar, Saudi Arabia; 15 January 2023)
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

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	Altameimi 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	Al-barahim 35' Abu Laban 90+1'	Report		Stadium: Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium Referee: Shahenda Saad Ali ElMaghrabi (Egypt)

19 January 2023 2023 SAFF Women's Friendly Tournament	Saudi Arabia	1–1	Pakistan	Khobar, Saudi Arabia
20:30 UTC+3	Mobarak 28'	Report	M. Khan 64'	Stadium: Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium

22 February 2023 Friendly	Saudi Arabia	1–1	Indonesia	Dammam, Saudi Arabia
18:00 UTC+3	Abdulrazak 85'	Report	Baiq 8'	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	Baiq 18'	Stadium: Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium

7 May 2023 Friendly	Saudi Arabia	0–0	Palestine	Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
19:00 UTC+3				Stadium: Sports Hall at King Abdullah Sports City

11 May 2023 Friendly	Saudi Arabia	1–1	Palestine	Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
19:00 UTC+3	Leen 18'		Miral 69'	Stadium: Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium

13 June 2023 Friendly	Saudi Arabia	1–3	Andorra	Girona, Spain
	Ibrahim 25'		Gonçalves 6' Ruzafa 19' Morato 45'	Stadium: Estadi Municipal De Peralada

17 June 2023 Friendly	Saudi Arabia	0–3	Andorra	Girona, Spain
			Morato 21', 72' Ruzafa 90'	Stadium: Estadi Municipal De Peralada

18 September 2023 2023 SAFF Women's Friendly Tournament	Saudi Arabia	0–0	Malaysia	Taif, Saudi Arabia
20:30 UTC+3				Stadium: King Fahd Sports City

24 September 2023 2023 SAFF Women's Friendly Tournament	Pakistan	0–1	Saudi Arabia	Taif, Saudi Arabia
20:30 UTC+3		Report	B. Al-Hawsawi 90+5'	Stadium: King Fahd Sports City

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)

30 September 2023 2023 SAFF Women's Friendly Tournament	Saudi Arabia	0–1	Malaysia	Taif, Saudi Arabia
17:30 UTC+3			Sarge 45+4'	Stadium: King Fahd Sports City

Women’s National Team (2023), saff.com.sa

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of 11 February 2023

Role	Name
Head coach	Rosa Lappi-Seppälä[16]
Assistant coach	Dona Rajab Sandra Kalin Martin Pacholek
Goalkeeping coach	Catherine Lingert
Team administrator	Dalia Al-Obeikan Intisar Al-Qahtan
Video analyst	Donna Newberry
Team manager	Beren Sadaqa

Manager history

Monika Staab[17] (11 August 2021 – 13 February 2023)
Rosa Lappi-Seppälä (13 February 2023 – present)

Players

Current squad

The following 26 players were called up for the 2023 SAFF Women's Friendly Tournament taking place from 18 – 30 September 2023.[18]

Caps and goals correct as of 30 September 2023

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Sara Khalid		11	0	Al-Nassr
21	1GK	Hassah Al-Sudairy		0	0	Al-Ittihad
30	1GK	Mona Abdulrahman	(2001-11-28) 28 November 2001	6	0	Al-Shabab
	1GK	Nawal Khaled		0	0	Al-Hilal

2	2DF	Bayan Sadagah (captain)	(2003-05-01) 1 May 2003	17	1	Al-Ittihad
4	2DF	Talah Al-Ghamdi		12	0	Al-Ittihad
12	2DF	Shuruq Al-Hawsawi	(2003-11-28) 28 November 2003	6	0	Al-Hilal
16	2DF	Huriyyah Al-Shamrani		7	0	Al-Ahli
23	2DF	Raghad Mukhayzin		16	0	Al-Ahli
24	2DF	Dalal Abdulatif		6	0	Al-Shabab

5	3MF	Lana Abdulrazak		17	1	Al-Ittihad
7	3MF	Noura Ibrahim	(1998-12-17) 17 December 1998	14	4	Al-Shabab
8	3MF	Layan Jouhari		7	0	Al-Ittihad
10	3MF	Sara Hamad	(2003-11-28) 28 November 2003	17	0	Al-Nassr
11	3MF	Daliah Abu Laban		6	1	Al-Ahli
14	3MF	Juri Tariq	(2003-03-13) 13 March 2003	15	0	Al-Ittihad
24	3MF	Renad Al-Sufyani		0	0	Al-Ahli
	3MF	Abeer Nasser		1	0	Al-Shabab
	3MF	Rahaf Al-Mansouri		1	0	Eastern Flames
	3MF	Munirah Ahmed		0	0	Al-Shabab

6	4FW	Fadwa Khaled		2	0	Al-Ahli
19	4FW	Al Bandry Al-Hawsawi		10	1	Al-Hilal
20	4FW	Fatimah Mansour		12	0	Al-Shabab
25	4FW	Ameera Abu Al-Samh		6	0	Al-Nassr
27	4FW	Mubarkah Al-Saiari	(1998-12-19) 19 December 1998	8	0	Al-Nassr
	4FW	Tahani Al-Zahrani		3	0	Al-Shabab

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	Laila Ali	(2000-09-22) 22 September 2000	1	0	Al-Shabab	v. Malaysia, 18 September 2023^INJ
GK	Nawal Al-Gelaish		0	0	Al-Riyadh	v. Andorra, 17 June 2023
GK	Lama Al-Anazi		0	0	Sama	v. Bhutan, 24 September 2022

DF	Leen Mohammed	(2000-11-28) 28 November 2000	12	1	Al-Yamamah	v. Malaysia, 18 September 2023^INJ
DF	Moudy Abdulmohsen	(1998-11-28) 28 November 1998	3	0	Al-Yamamah	v. Malaysia, 18 September 2023^INJ
DF	Aseel Ahmed	(1996-11-28) 28 November 1996	1	0	Al-Nassr	2023 SAFF Women's Friendly Tournament
DF	Atheer Khaled	(1993-11-28) 28 November 1993	1	0	Al-Shabab	v. Bhutan, 24 September 2022
DF	Mashael Al-Harbi		0	0	Al-Shabab	v. Bhutan, 24 September 2022

MF	Mariam Al-Tameimi	Error: Need valid birth date: year, month, day	8	2	Al-Ittihad	v. Malaysia, 18 September 2023^INJ
MF	Seba Tawfiq	(2005-01-13) 13 January 2005	7	0	Al-Ittihad	v. Malaysia, 18 September 2023^INJ
MF	Adha Al-Fahed	(1996-03-13) 13 March 1996	5	0	Al-Hilal	v. Malaysia, 18 September 2023^INJ
MF	Majd Al-Otaibi		1	0	Al-Hilal	v. Andorra, 17 June 2023
MF	Rema Al-Thakafi		1	0	Al-Ahli	v. Andorra, 17 June 2023
MF	Raghad Helmi	(1997-03-08) 8 March 1997	3	0	Al-Shabab	v. Indonesia, 26 February 2023
MF	Hala Khashoggi		0	0	Al-Ittihad	2023 SAFF Women's Friendly Tournament ^WD
MF	Asrar Al-Shaibani	(1995-07-23) 23 July 1995	1	0	Al-Ittihad	v. Bhutan, 24 September 2022
MF	Farah Jefry	(2003-01-12) 12 January 2003	1	0	Al-Ittihad	v. Bhutan, 24 September 2022

FW	Al Bandari Mobarak	(2001-12-09) 9 December 2001	12	6	Al-Shabab	v. Malaysia, 18 September 2023^INJ
^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 28 September 2022.[15]

Most-capped players

#	Player	Year(s)	Caps

Top goalscorers

#	Player	Year(s)	Goals	Caps
1	Al Bandari Mobarak	2022–present	6	9
2	Noura Al-Brahim	2022–present	3	8
3	Mariam Al Tameimi	2022–present	2	8
4	Bayan Sadagah	2022–present	1	9
	Dalia Abu Laban	2022–present	1	3
	Lana Abdulrazak	2022–present	1	9

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
1990	did not enter
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
2026	To be decided
2030	To be decided
2034	Qualified as host
Total	0/10	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

*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
Andorra	2	0	0	2	1	6	–5	0.00	UEFA
Bhutan	2	0	1	1	5	7	–2	0.00	AFC
Indonesia	2	0	1	1	1	2	–1	0.00	AFC
Pakistan	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	0.00	AFC
Palestine	2	0	2	0	1	1	0	0.00	AFC
Maldives	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2	100.00	AFC
Seychelles	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2	100.00	CAF
Mauritius	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	100.00	CAF
Comoros	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2	100.00	CAF
Total	13	4	5	4	16	17	-1	30.76	—

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

References

"The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
"Hijabs approved for soccer players by FIFA – Montreal – CBC News". Cbc.ca. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
"Women's football". New Statesman. 137: 20. 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
"Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia After King Abdullah".
"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.
"Saudi Arabia reforms open turnstiles to female football fans". Financial Times. 12 January 2018.
"Jeddah Eagles flying high with women's football win". Arab News. 9 December 2019.
"Saudi Arabia launches a soccer league for women". CNN. 27 February 2020.
"Arab nations cannot afford to ignore the rise of women's football". 29 July 2020.
"Monika Staab appointed coach of Saudi women's national football team". Arab News. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
"Saudi Arabian women's national team set for historic international debut in Maldives". Orbital Affairs. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
"Saudi women's national football team beat Seychelles in historic international win". Arab News. 20 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
(AR)لمياء بن بهيان: نخطط لمشاركة منتخب السعودية للسيدات في كأس العالم خلال 10 أعوام
"Women's National Team (2023)". Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF). Retrieved 4 May 2023.
"Saudi Arabia – Team Info". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
"Appointment of Monica Staab as the technical director of the women's department and Finnish Rosa Lappi as coach of the green". saff.com.sa (in Arabic). Saudi Arabian Football Federation. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
"Who's Who: Monika Staab, new coach of the Saudi women's national football team". arabnews.com. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
"الأربعاء: انطلاق معسكر المنتخب الوطني للسيدات استعدادًا للنسخة الثانية من البطولة الدولية الودية للسيدات".

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[FIFA_Women's_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.

[2] "Hijabs approved for soccer players by FIFA – Montreal – CBC News". Cbc.ca. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2013.

[New_statesman-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 (2023)". Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF). Retrieved 4 May 2023.

[GSA-15] "Saudi Arabia – Team Info". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 24 February 2022.

[16] "Appointment of Monica Staab as the technical director of the women's department and Finnish Rosa Lappi as coach of the green". saff.com.sa (in Arabic). Saudi Arabian Football Federation. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 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] "الأربعاء: انطلاق معسكر المنتخب الوطني للسيدات استعدادًا للنسخة الثانية من البطولة الدولية الودية للسيدات".

Saudi Arabia national football team
General	Saudi Arabian Football Federation History Managers Notable matches
Venues	King Fahd International Stadium King Abdullah Sports City
Statistics	Results 1957–79 1980–99 2000–09 2010–19 2020–present Competitions
Players	Recent players International players Women
World Cup Finals	1994 1998 2002 2006 2018 2022
Asian Finals	1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023 2027
Rivalries	Iran rivalry Iraq rivalry Kuwait rivalry UAE rivalry
Other Saudi teams	Women's Women's under-17 U-23 U-20 U-17 Futsal Beach soccer