Prince William Honors Saudi Girls’ Football Rise During Riyadh Coaching Visit

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His Royal Highness Prince William, the Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne, attended a training session at the regional girls’ training centers in Riyadh on February 10, 2026, as part of his official visit to Saudi Arabia. The session took place at the non-profit Masik Center and was hosted alongside Saudi sports leadership, including Minister of Sports Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal. The visit underscored ongoing collaboration to promote women’s football in the kingdom.

During the visit, the Prince spoke with players and the technical and administrative staff, while Lamia Ben Bahyan, deputy president of the Saudi Football Federation, outlined how women’s football has evolved in the country. She explained the federation’s role in raising the technical level and expanding opportunities for female athletes as part of the broader 2030 Vision.

Growth milestones

Over the past five years, growth has accelerated thanks to the creation of five national teams (the senior national team, futsal, and youth squads under 20, 17, and 15), and the launch of ten championships. Notably, the Saudi Women’s Premier League now runs with around 50 international players from roughly 20 different nationalities, competing across Saudi clubs.

Ben Bahyan noted that progress is anchored by sustained leadership from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Minister of Sports. She highlighted that the kingdom has established six regional training centers for girls aged six to fifteen, trained more than 1,000 coaches, 35 referees, and registered about 1,800 players in affiliated programs. The federation also emphasizes equal pay, benefits, housing, and equal access to training facilities and equipment.

The federation’s efforts align with Saudi Arabia’s drive to develop women’s sport nationwide, and the broader objective of strengthening both performance and opportunities for female athletes in line with Vision 2030.

Quotes and outlook

During the gathering, William offered encouragement to the youngsters and exchanged remarks with the coaching and administrative teams in the presence of Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal. Multiple photo sessions with SAFF branding accompanied the visit, underscoring the official partnership between the British royals and Saudi sports authorities.

Ben Bahyan also recalled the 2021 talent trials, noting ministerial involvement from the outset and the momentum that followed: “Since then, we’ve achieved milestone after milestone, including school leagues now featuring 77,000 female players—an extraordinary leap from zero five years ago.”

She added that the ongoing initiatives—such as regional centers, more referees, and coaches—are designed to guarantee fair opportunities and improved performance for female players across the kingdom, while supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader sporting ambitions.

In short, the visit highlighted a sweeping era of progress for women’s football in Saudi Arabia, with international attention and local impact alike. The long-term plan continues to emphasize infrastructure, equality, and competitive success on the world stage.

Punchline time: If your goals were a football match, Saudi women’s football just scored a new league-wide extra-time winner—cue the confetti and a very proud referee. And if you thought the crown didn’t come with a training plan, think again: even the throne gets a Klopp-esque pep talk before the final whistle.