Saudi Arabia women's national football team

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
Most capsLana Abdulrazak
Sara Al-Hamad
Bayan Sadagah (22)
Top scorerAl Bandari Mobarak (14)
FIFA codeKSA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 165 1 (12 June 2025)[1]
Highest165 (June 2025)
Lowest175 (December 2023 – June 2024)
First international
  2–0 Seychelles 
(Malé, Maldives, 20 February 2022)
Biggest win
  4–0 Laos 
(Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 29 October 2024)

  4–0 Tajikistan 
(Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 23 February 2025)
Biggest defeat
 Andorra 3–0  
(Girona, Spain, 17 June 2023)
 Philippines 3–0  
(Phnom Penh, Cambodia; 29 June 2025)

The Saudi Arabia women's national football team (Arabic: المنتخب السعودي لكرة القدم للسيدات) is the official women's national football team represents 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 and Sandra Kälin as co-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.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2024

7 August 2024 Friendly   0–1  Moldova Ostrava-Vítkovice, Czechia
17:30 UTC+2 Report (FMF) Său 54' Stadium: Městský stadion
11 August 2024 Friendly   0–1  Moldova Kirchberg am Wagram, Austria
20:00 UTC+2 Report (FMF) Stadium: Sportpark Kirchberg/Wagram
23 October 2024 (2024-10-23) Friendly   0–0  Malaysia Dubai, United Arab Emirates
--:-- UTC+3 Stadium: Police Officers' Club Stadium
29 October 2024 (2024-10-29) Friendly   4–0  Laos Dubai, United Arab Emirates
19:00 UTC+3
Stadium: Police Officers' Club Stadium
29 November 2024 (2024-11-29) Friendly   0–1  Palestine Doha, Qatar
19:00 UTC+3 Youssef 66' Stadium: Aspire Academy Stadium
Referee: Khalid Al-Shaqsi (Oman)
3 December 2024 (2024-12-03) Friendly   2–0  Palestine Doha, Qatar
19:00 UTC+3
Report Stadium: Aspire Academy Stadium
Referee: Khalid Al-Shaqsi (Oman)
7 December 2024 (2024-12-07) Friendly   1–1  Pakistan Doha, Qatar
19:00 UTC+3 Al-Ghamdi 37' Report Hirani 87' Stadium: Aspire Academy Stadium
Referee: Khalid Al-Shaqsi (Oman)

2025

20 February 2025 (2025-02-20) Friendly   0–1  Indonesia Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
19:30 UTC+3 Report Reva O. 31' (pen.) Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City
Referee: Mohammed Al-Manii (Oman)
23 February 2025 (2025-02-23) Friendly   4–0  Tajikistan Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
19:30 UTC+3
Report Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City
Player of the Match: Seba Tawfiq
26 February 2025 (2025-02-26) Friendly   3–0  Tajikistan Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
19:30 UTC+3
Report Stadium: King Abdullah Sports City
Player of the Match: Lana Abdulrazak
5 April 2025 (2025-04-05) Friendly   2–0  Sri Lanka Khobar, Saudi Arabia
18:30 UTC+3
Report Stadium: Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Stadium
8 April 2025 (2025-04-08) Friendly   1–2  Hong Kong Khobar, Saudi Arabia
18:30 UTC+3 Mukhayzin 90+1'
  • Ko Pak Ling Lucia 76'
  • Chan Yee Hing 80'
Stadium: Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Stadium
12 June 2025 (2025-06-12) Friendly   1–0  Bahrain Taif, Saudi Arabia
10:00 UTC+3 Tawfiq 89' Stadium: King Fahd Sports City
29 June 2025 (2025-06-29) 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification   0–3  Philippines Phnom Penh, Cambodia
16:00 UTC+7 Report
Stadium: National Olympic Stadium
Referee: Sunita Thongthawin (Thailand)
2 July 2025 (2025-07-02) 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification   0–1  Hong Kong Phnom Penh, Cambodia
16:00 UTC+7 Report
  • Tsang L.M. 62'
Stadium: National Olympic Stadium
Referee: Nodira Mirzoeva (Tajikistan)
5 July 2025 (2025-07-05) 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification   1–2  Cambodia Phnom Penh, Cambodia
19:00 UTC+7
  • Al-Angari 79'
Report
  • Sovanmony 84'
  • Serysitha 90+5'
Stadium: National Olympic Stadium
Referee: Veronika Bernatskaia (Kyrgyzstan)

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 3 0 1 2 5 8 –3 0.00 AFC
 Comoros 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 100.00 CAF
 Guam 1 0 0 1 0 2 –2 0.00 AFC
 Indonesia 3 0 1 2 1 3 –2 0.00 AFC
 Jordan 1 0 0 1 1 3 –2 0.00 AFC
 Laos 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 100.00 AFC
 Lebanon 1 0 0 1 2 3 –1 0.00 AFC
 Malaysia 3 0 2 1 0 1 –1 0.00 AFC
 Maldives 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 100.00 AFC
 Mauritius 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 100.00 CAF
 Moldova 2 0 0 2 0 2 –2 0.00 UEFA
 Pakistan 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1 50.00 AFC
 Palestine 4 1 2 1 3 2 +1 25.00 AFC
 Philippines 1 0 0 1 0 3 –3 0.00 AFC
 Seychelles 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 100.00 CAF
 Syria 2 2 0 0 5 0 +5 100.00 AFC
 Tajikistan 2 2 0 0 7 0 +7 100.00 AFC
Total 33 11 8 14 39 35 +4 33.333

Last updated: Saudi Arabia vs Philippines, 29 June 2025.[14]

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of 11 February 2023
Position Name
Head coach Lluís Cortés[15]
Assistant coach Dona Rajab
Sandra Kalin
Martin Pacholek
Goalkeeping coach Kathrin Längert
Team administrator Dalia Al-Obeikan
Intisar Al-Qahtan
Video analyst Donna Newberry
Team manager Beren Sadaqa

Manager history

Players

Current squad

Caps and goals correct as of 23 February 2024 after the match against Guam

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Sara Khalid (1996-08-02) 2 August 1996 14 0 Al Nassr
21 1GK Mona Abdulrahman (1996-10-27) 27 October 1996 8 0 Al-Shabab
22 1GK Laila Ali (2000-09-25) 25 September 2000 1 0 Al-Shabab

23 2DF Raghad Mukhayzin (1996-10-24) 24 October 1996 21 0 Al-Ahli
6 2DF Layan Jouhari (2001-01-12) 12 January 2001 7 0 Al-Ittihad
25 2DF Nouf Saud (2000-11-07) 7 November 2000 4 0 Al Hilal
24 2DF Hala Khashoggi (1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 3 0 Al-Ittihad
2DF Farida Ashraf
2DF Shorouk Al-Husawi
2 2DF Bayan Sadagah (1994-11-15) 15 November 1994 22 1 Al-Ittihad

5 3MF Lana Abdulrazak (2005-05-22) 22 May 2005 22 2 Al-Ittihad
8 3MF Sara Al-Hamad (1992-06-27) 27 June 1992 22 0 Al Nassr
19 3MF Mariam Al-Tamimi (2004-12-08) 8 December 2004 8 3 Al-Ula
3MF Basma Nawaf
15 3MF Moudi Abdulmohsen (2001-09-20) 20 September 2001 5 0 Al-Shabab
5 3MF Maram Al-Yahya
10 3MF Seba Tawfiq (2005-01-13) 13 January 2005 12 2 Al-Ittihad

4FW Ameera Abualsamh (2005-11-28) 28 November 2005 6 0 McMaster Marauders
17 4FW Fadwa Khaled (2005-01-25) 25 January 2005 2 0 Al-Ahli
11 3MF Fatimah Mansour (2007-12-10) 10 December 2007 15 0 Al-Shabab
9 4FW Al Bandary Mobarak (2001-12-09) 9 December 2001 17 10 Al-Shabab
3MF Safa Kadour
4FW Shaima Mahmoud

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 Salma Al-Dowsri (2002-11-07) 7 November 2002 0 0 Al Qadsiah v.  Syria, 12 January 2024
GK Reem Al-Bloushi (2001-01-21) 21 January 2001 0 0 Al Nassr v.  Pakistan, 7 December 2024
GK Ghaliah Emam (1994-08-10) 10 August 1994 0 0 Al-Ahli v.  Pakistan, 7 December 2024

DF Asrar Al-Shaibani (1995-07-23) 23 July 1995 2 0 Al-Ittihad v.  Moldova, 11 August 2024
DF Tahani Al-Yunbaawi (1995-10-01) 1 October 1995 0 0 Al Nassr v.  Syria, 12 January 2024
DF Leen Mohammed (2003-03-22) 22 March 2003 15 2 Al-Shabab v.  Pakistan, 7 December 2024
DF Talah Zuhair Al-Ghamdi (1999-11-18) 18 November 1999 16 0 Al-Ittihad v.  Pakistan, 7 December 2024
DF Shuruq Al-Hwsawi (1994-11-25) 25 November 1994 8 0 Al Hilal v.  Pakistan, 7 December 2024
DF Huriyyah Al-Shamrani (2004-07-14) 14 July 2004 8 0 Al-Ahli v.  Pakistan, 7 December 2024

MF Al Jawharah Saud (2000-09-10) 10 September 2000 2 0 Al Hilal 2024 WAFF Women's ChampionshipINJ
MF Majd Al-Otaibi (2006-12-04) 4 December 2006 1 0 Al Hilal v.  Moldova, 11 August 2024
MF Lulu Al-Obaid (2004-10-26) 26 October 2004 0 0 Al Hilal v.  Moldova, 11 August 2024
MF Noura Ibrahim (1998-09-17) 17 September 1998 17 3 Al-Shabab v.  Guam, 23 February 2024
MF Jouri Al-Johani (2005-11-27) 27 November 2005 0 0 Al Hilal v.  Pakistan, 7 December 2024
MF Manar Al Enezi (2000-01-14) 14 January 2000 0 0 Al Hilal v.  Pakistan, 7 December 2024
MF Rahaf Al-Mansouri (1997-04-25) 25 April 1997 1 0 Al Qadsiah v.  Pakistan, 7 December 2024

FW Moluk Al-Hawsawi (2005-01-10) 10 January 2005 2 0 Al-Ahli v.  Guam, 23 February 2024
FW Haya Al-Sunaidi (2001-08-30) 30 August 2001 1 0 Al Qadsiah v.  Guam, 23 February 2024
FW Abeer Nasser (1998-09-14) 14 September 1998 2 0 Al-Shabab v.  Guam, 23 February 2024
FW Dalal Abdulwasi (1995-01-13) 13 January 1995 0 0 Al Nassr v.  Syria, 12 January 2024
FW Joury Tarek (2003-03-13) 13 March 2003 17 0 Al-Ittihad v.  Pakistan, 7 December 2024
FW Lamar Mohammad Balkhudher (2007-12-25) 25 December 2007 Al Ittihad v.  Tajikistan,6 February 2025

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.[14]

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.

FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup record
Hosts / Year Result GP W D* L GS GA GD
1991 Did not enter
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023
2027 Did not qualify
2031 TBD
2035
Total 0/12
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Olympic Games

Summer Olympics record
Hosts / Year Result GP W D* L GS GA GD
1996 Did not enter
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
2028 Did not qualify
2032 TBD
Total 0/10
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Arab Women's Cup

Arab Women's Cup record
Hosts / Year Result GP W D* L GS GA GD
2006 Did not enter
2021
Total 0/2

WAFF Women's Championship

WAFF Women's Championship record
Hosts / Year Result GP W D* L GS GA GD
2005 Did not enter
2007
2010
2011
2014
2019
2022
2024 Group stage 3 0 0 3 3 8 −5
Total 1/8 3 0 0 3 3 8 −5

AFC Women's Asian Cup

AFC Women's Asian Cup record
Hosts / Year Result GP W D* L GS GA GD
1975 Did not enter
1977
1980
1981
1983
1986
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2006
2008
2010
2014
2018
2022
2026 Did not qualify
2029 TBD
Total 0/22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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 TBD
2030
2034 Qualified as host
Total 0/10
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

See also

References

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  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. ^ a b "Saudi Arabia – Team Info". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Former Barcelona manager Lluis Cortes named Saudi Arabia women's head coach". theathletic.com. Charlotte Harpur. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Who's Who: Monika Staab, new coach of the Saudi women's national football team". arabnews.com. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  17. ^ "الاتحاد السعودي يقدم شكره لمدربة منتخب السيدات روزا لابي بعد انتهاء مدة عقدها - الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم".
  18. ^ "من هو لويس كورتيس المدرب الجديد لأخضر السيدات؟".
  19. ^ "The NT women's begins its Asian qualifying campaign against the Philippines". Saudi Arabian Football Federation. 29 June 2025.