The Saudi Women's Premier League (Arabic: الدوري السعودي الممتاز للسيدات) is the top flight of women's association football in Saudi Arabia.[1]
![]() Official logo | |
Organising body | Saudi Arabian Football Federation |
---|---|
Founded | 2022 |
Country | Saudi Arabia |
Confederation | AFC |
Number of teams | 10 (since 2024–25) |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | Saudi Women's First Division League |
Domestic cup(s) | SAFF Women's Cup |
International cup(s) | AFC Women's Champions League |
Current champions | Al-Nassr (2nd title) (2023–24) |
Most championships | Al Nassr (2 titles) |
TV partners | SSC Shahid (Streaming) DAZN (outside MENA) Grass Valley |
Sponsor(s) | Lay's & Saudi National Bank |
Website | saff.com.sa |
Current: 2024–25 Saudi Women's Premier League |
History
editThe first Saudi women's club were King's United based in Jeddah,[2] and Eastern Flames in Dhahran. Both were formed in 2006. Other women's teams were formed after in Riyadh and Dammam. In 2008, the first Saudi women's tournament was held with the participation of seven teams. In December 2019, the Jeddah Women's Football League was held, which was the first women's competition organized by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation; it was won by Jeddah Eagles.[3]
In February 2020, Saudi Arabia decided to launch a football league[4] for women throughout the country.[5] On 17 November 2020, the national league was launched with 24 teams; it was divided into three regions, Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam which represent the Women's Community Football League, and the four best teams qualified to the WFL Champions Cup.[6] Challenge Sports Club won the first edition.[7]
In October 2023, the Saudi Women's Premier League partnered with DAZN, giving them rights to stream the league's matches worldwide.[8] This move reflects the league's major advancements in recent years.
On 14 December 2023, the match between Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad witnessed the presence of FIFA President Gianni Infantino at Prince Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah.[9]
On 23 December 2023, the match between Al-Ittihad and Al Nassr witnessed the presence of The Best FIFA Women's Player 2021 and 2022, Spain's Alexia Putellas, at Prince Faisal Bin Fahad stadium (Al Ittihad Club) in Jeddah.[10]
In May 2024, Grass Valley announced a cooperation agreement with Saudi Pro League to distribute the 2024–25 Saudi Women's Premier League matches through its digital platform.[11]
On 31 May 2024, the Saudi Football Federation renewed the exclusive partnership agreement with Saudi National Bank for a period of 3 years to sponsor the Saudi Women's Premier League and also the SAFF Women's Cup.[12]
Current Teams 2024-25
editThe following ten teams are competing in the 2024–25 season:
Team | Location | Ground | Capacity | 2023-24 Season |
---|---|---|---|---|
Al-Ahli | Jeddah | Prince Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium | 10,000 | 2nd |
Al-Amal | Taif | To be determined | D1, 3rd | |
Al-Hilal | Riyadh | To be determined | 5th | |
Al-Ittihad | Jeddah | King Abdullah Sports City Stadium | 62,345 | 6th |
Al-Nassr | Riyadh | Al-Awwal Park | 25,000 | 1st |
Al-Qadsiah | Khobar | Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium | 15,000 | 4th |
Al-Shabab | Riyadh | Al-Shabab Club Stadium | 15,000 | 3rd |
Al-Taraji | Qatif | To be determined | D1, 2nd | |
Al-Ula | Al-'Ula | To be determined | D1, 1st | |
Eastern Flames | Dammam | To be determined | 7th |
Champions
editBy season
editSeason | Winners | Runners-up | Third place | Top goalscorer | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022–23 | Al Nassr | Al Hilal | Al-Shabab | Shokhan Salihi (Al Hilal) | 43 |
2023–24 | Al Nassr | Al-Ahli | Al-Shabab | Ibtissam Jraïdi (Al-Ahli) | 17
|
2024–25 |
By team
editClub | Winners | Years won |
---|---|---|
Al-Nassr | 2 | 2022–23, 2023–24 |
Records
editTop scorers
editRank | Player | Goals | Apps | Ratio | Position | First goal | Last goal | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Shokhan Salihi | 49 | 21 | 2.33 | Forward | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | |
2 | Ibtissam Jraïdi | 34 | 20 | 1.7 | Forward | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | |
3 | Hessa Al-Isa | 15 | 14 | Forward | 2022–23 | 2022–23 | ||
Noha Tarek | 15 | Forward | 2022–23 | 2022–23 | ||||
5 | Maysa Jbarah | 14 | 21 | Forward | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | ||
6 | Daliah Abu Laban | 11 | 21 | 0.52 | Forward | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | |
Elizabeth Addo | 11 | Forward | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | ||||
8 | Seba Tawfiq | 9 | 19 | 0.47 | Midfielder | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | |
Zainab Al-Lami | 9 | Midfielder | 2022–23 | 2022–23 |
Former top league champions
editThe list of champions and runners-up:
Year | Champions | Runners-up |
---|---|---|
Women's Community Football League
| ||
2020–21 | Challenge SC | Jeddah Eagles LFC |
SAFF Women's National Football Championship
| ||
2021–22 | Al-Nassr | Al-Hilal |
- Al-Hilal (ex. Challenge SC)
- Al-Ittihad Jeddah (ex. Jeddah Eagles LFC)
- Al-Nassr won the 2021-22 title under the name of Al-Mamlaka Before the acquisition
References
edit- ^ Diamond, Drew (29 February 2020). "Saudi Arabia form Women's Football League". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Saudi female athletes challenge Muslim norms". espn. Barbara Surk. 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "Jeddah Eagles flying high with women's football win". Arab News. 9 December 2019. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ Naidu, Dr Unnati (3 January 2022). "Saudi Arabia: First women's football league from fan's perspective". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia launches a soccer league for women". CNN. Ivana Kottasová & Chandler Thornton. 27 February 2020. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "الدوري السعودي النسائي". saudileague.com. Muhammad Aamer. 23 November 2020. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "Challenge Team First Winner Of The Saudi WFL". sportsforall.com. 18 December 2020. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "DAZN further invests in women's football with deal to broadcast Saudi Women's Premier League | DAZN News US". DAZN. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "حضور إنفانتينو يؤكد استمرار دعم الكرة النسائية السعودية" [Infantino's presence confirms the continued support for Saudi women's football.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ "لاعبة برشلونة تشهد قمة الدوري السعودي للسيدات" [Barcelona player witnesses the summit of the Saudi Women's League.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "الدوري السعودي للسيدات يدخل مرحلة جديدة في البث التلفزيوني" [The Saudi Women's League enters a new phase in television broadcasting.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "كرة القدم النسائية في السعودية تواصل الازدهار" [The Women's football in Saudi Arabia continues to flourish.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.