Saudi Federation Women's Cup To Kick Start In November (image X @SAFF)

Saudi Federation Women”s Cup will kick start in November. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has announced 16 clubs will play in the first edition of the game. The clubs are reported to be divided into two levels with eight team on each side.

Both the teams will be divided according to last season”s position. The premier league clubs, which include Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Shabab, Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Shou”lat Al-Sharqiyah, Riyadh and Al-Qadsiyah.

The second level include Al-Bairag, Jeddah, Najmat Jeddah, Ittihad Al-Nusoor, Al-Himmah, Suqoor Al-Ghabriyah, Saham and Al-Amal.

Alia Al-Rasheed, Director of the Women”s Football Department remarked the Saudi Federation Women”s Cup marks a significant step within the development plans for the women”s football.

She further added that the success of the Saudi Women”s League and the First Division league in their first season accentuated further  developments of women”s football.

According to report, the tournament will be played in a knockout system. In the presence of the representatives of the participating club, the drew ceremony for the Saudi Federation Cup for 2023/2024 took place at SAFF headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia”s capital.

Champion of the Saudi Federation Cup can take home SR750,000. Second place will be offered SR500,000 and third position will be offered SR200,000 as approved by Saudi Arabia Football Federation.

Its only recently that Saudi Arabia has started to open its doors for their women. Earlier Saudi Women were not allowed to do many activities including driving. The situation has started to take a U turn for the past few years since Saudi women can now drive, enter stadiums and other places which were restricted earlier and pursue their goals which were reserved only for men before.

In August 2022,  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pronounced their desire to hold Asian Cup in women’s football in 2026.

With inputs from Saudi Gazette.