Saudi Arabia claims victory in its first ever women’s international match

By Ben Church, CNN

It was a historic day for Saudi Arabia as the women’s national football team played, and won, its first official international match on Sunday.

The Saudis traveled to the Maldives to beat the Seychelles 2-0 in a friendly which comes just a month after the final team was named.

It will now face the Maldives in its second match on Thursday at the National Stadium in Malé.

The team was congratulated by Brazilian soccer legend Pelé, who called it a “historic day.”

“I want to congratulate the @saudiFF and their Women’s National Football Team for their first ever official @FIFAcom match,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Today is a historic day not only for you, but for everyone who loves football.”

Saudi Arabia is managed by German Monica Stubb who noted the significance of the tie even before a ball was kicked.

“We are facing a historic moment for Saudi women’s football,” she said.

“And I would like to ask the players to enjoy this match and to be proud to be on this list and to have the opportunity to live this experience, which is only the beginning of what is to come.”

It is another gesture toward loosening some of the strict rules that are still imposed on women living in the ultra-conservative kingdom.

Until the last few years, Saudi women had been mostly barred from participating in sports in public.

However, Saudi leaders have been highlighting progress on gender issues at a time of scrutiny in the West over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.

In 2020, it launched a women’s soccer league which organizers said would be “one more major leap forward for the future of our country.”

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