Saudi Arabia's Women's Football Revolution: Breaking Barriers and Pursuing Dreams
Saudi Arabia is making strides in promoting diversity and inclusion in football, with over 1,100 female football players registered.
The Women's Football Department focuses on grassroots development, including five local competitions.
Aalia Al-Rasheed, head of the department, reported a 150% increase in women's participation since 2015.
This is part of the country's overall transformation under Vision 2030.
Al-Nassr won the 2023-2024 Premier League championship with a 1-0 victory over Al-Ittihad, ending the season with a celebration at Al-Awwal Park Stadium.
The following day, Hiwar, PepsiCo's annual women empowerment event, took place.
Notable female figures in Saudi Arabian football, including Al-Nassr's goalkeeper Sara Khalid, Al-Ittihad's women's team head coach Kelly Lindsey, and Al-Rasheed, gathered to highlight the achievements of women in football.
A panel discussion moderated by Mo Islam took place, where industry drivers shared their experiences promoting women's inclusion in the sport.
Khalid, Saudi Arabia's first international female football player and senior marketing manager, reflects on her team's achievements and the pressure of being a trailblazer.
After leaving her day job to focus on football, she feels a great responsibility to inspire and be inspired.
For coaches, the biggest challenge is maintaining balance within a team.
A coach named Lindsey is making a significant impact on Saudi football by blending physical preparation with cultural understanding in Al-Ittihad's women's team.
Last summer, some players had difficulty passing the ball five times, but they have now advanced to the first level of the Saudi football pyramid.
Lindsey praised Saudi Arabia's investment in women's sports, with SR49.9 million ($13 million) allocated to women's football cross-country programs last year.
She believes that investing in sports empowers women, making them more visible in society and creating a dialogue for more infrastructure and opportunities for women to succeed in various fields.
Last October, Lay's potato chips, a subsidiary of PepsiCo., announced their sponsorship of the 2023-24 Saudi Women's Premier League.
This move aligns with PepsiCo.'s vision of promoting diversity and inclusion, in line with Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision.
The company aims to provide opportunities for Saudi female athletes and continue supporting their dreams and empowerment.
Aalia Al-Rasheed, head of the department, reported a 150% increase in women's participation since 2015.
This is part of the country's overall transformation under Vision 2030.
Al-Nassr won the 2023-2024 Premier League championship with a 1-0 victory over Al-Ittihad, ending the season with a celebration at Al-Awwal Park Stadium.
The following day, Hiwar, PepsiCo's annual women empowerment event, took place.
Notable female figures in Saudi Arabian football, including Al-Nassr's goalkeeper Sara Khalid, Al-Ittihad's women's team head coach Kelly Lindsey, and Al-Rasheed, gathered to highlight the achievements of women in football.
A panel discussion moderated by Mo Islam took place, where industry drivers shared their experiences promoting women's inclusion in the sport.
Khalid, Saudi Arabia's first international female football player and senior marketing manager, reflects on her team's achievements and the pressure of being a trailblazer.
After leaving her day job to focus on football, she feels a great responsibility to inspire and be inspired.
For coaches, the biggest challenge is maintaining balance within a team.
A coach named Lindsey is making a significant impact on Saudi football by blending physical preparation with cultural understanding in Al-Ittihad's women's team.
Last summer, some players had difficulty passing the ball five times, but they have now advanced to the first level of the Saudi football pyramid.
Lindsey praised Saudi Arabia's investment in women's sports, with SR49.9 million ($13 million) allocated to women's football cross-country programs last year.
She believes that investing in sports empowers women, making them more visible in society and creating a dialogue for more infrastructure and opportunities for women to succeed in various fields.
Last October, Lay's potato chips, a subsidiary of PepsiCo., announced their sponsorship of the 2023-24 Saudi Women's Premier League.
This move aligns with PepsiCo.'s vision of promoting diversity and inclusion, in line with Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision.
The company aims to provide opportunities for Saudi female athletes and continue supporting their dreams and empowerment.
Translation:
Translated by AI
