Saudi Arabia Women

Four nations, one group, and by the end of it Saudi Arabia's women stood top: the Al-Khobar friendly tournament of January 2023 gave the Green Falcons their first international title, ahead of Pakistan, Comoros and Mauritius, played out at the Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium in the Eastern Province.

The team had existed for barely a year and a half by then. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation set it up on 11 August 2021, bringing in Monika Staab as head coach. Its first matches followed in February 2022, in the Maldives, where Saudi Arabia beat Seychelles and the hosts by the same 2-0 scoreline. Albandari Alhawsawi scored the goal against Seychelles that opened the team's account, and the same year she was named the domestic league's best player and top scorer.

Saudi soil waited a little longer. The first home fixture came on 24 September 2022, a 3-3 draw with Bhutan at the Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium in Abha, a ground that holds 25,000. FIFA gave the side its first ranking in September 2023, placing them 171st.

The Green Falcons share their nickname with the men's team, and the green and white of the kit follow the national flag. Training has been split between Riyadh and Jeddah, with matches taking the squad to Abha and to Al-Khobar, the stadium at the eastern edge of the country where the run to that first trophy was decided.