Saudi Women’s Football Sees 195% Surge in Professional Players
A NEOM report highlights a large increase in professional female football players in the Kingdom, with over 1,500 players.
A new report from NEOM, in partnership with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), revealed that the number of professional female players in Saudi Arabia has surged by 195% since 2021, with more than 1,500 registered players across the country.
At the grassroots level, the sport has seen explosive growth, with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s Girls' Schools League reaching more than 70,000 participants in 2023. This represents a 46% increase in participation from the previous year. The establishment of regional training centres has also played a pivotal role in nurturing talent, with the number of centres expanding from one to six between 2021 and 2023.
In the professional realm, Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in developing a competitive framework for women’s football. Alongside the growth in player numbers, the Kingdom has witnessed a rise in the number of national teams and competitions. This investment in infrastructure and resources is supported by the Women’s Clubs Development Fund Program, which has grown to SAR 60 million (USD 16 million) for the 2024-25 season.
