Saudi Arabia launches women’s football league
The Saudi football federation launched the first edition of a women’s league in the country. Women’s sport was long frowned upon in conservative Saudi Arabia. But the November 22 launch is part of a programme set up by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation in 2017 to support women’s football.
According to the federation, the new women’s league will be played in two phases within the regional league.
Sixteen teams will take part in the first phase with games played in three cities — the capital Riyadh, Jeddah and
Dammam.
Those who qualify will play in a knockout competition at the
Kingdom Final Championship due to be held early next year in the
Red Sea city of Jeddah.
Federation chairman Yasser Almisehal said the creation of a women's league was “an important moment" for the federation.