Al Nassr to feature in historic first edition of AFC Women's Champions League in 2024/25

The Riyadh-based club will become the first Saudi Arabian female team to compete in the region's top women's club competition next season
Al Nassr among 22 clubs to compete in new look AFC Women's Champions League, set to kick off with preliminary group stage in August 

Al Nassr and Saudi Arabian Women's Goalkeeper Sara Khalid lifts the SAFF Women's Premier League title that secured AFC Women's Champions League qualification (Photo by SAFF)
 
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 15 June 2024: Following a remarkable domestic season for women's football, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have announced that Al Nassr FC are set to represent Saudi Arabia in the inaugural edition of the AFC Women's Champions League in the upcoming 2024/25 season.
 
As winners of the 2023/24 Women's Premier League, Al Nassr will qualify for the new tournament, with the draw for the preliminary rounds to take place at the AFC House in July. The draw will determine the groups for the opening matches, set to take place from 25 to 31 August 2024.
 
In a historic moment for Saudi Arabian football, Al Nassr becomes the first women's side to compete in the region's top club competition, with 22 teams from AFC's top ranked nations, including Japan, Australia, DPR Korea and China.
 
The qualification of the Saudi Arabian women's club to the region's top club tournament showcases the remarkable growth of women's football in the Kingdom in recent years, since the formation of the first women's national team in 2021 and the first professional women's league in 2022. 
 
The AFC also confirmed that Saudi Arabia would host one group within the preliminary stages of the competition, marking the second occasion that the Kingdom has hosted a professional women's football event following the successful West Asian Football Federation Women's Championship to begin 2024. 
 
This adds a historic year for women's football in the Kingdom, following the conclusion of the second season of the Women's Premier League as the women's game continues its unique growth in stature. 
 
Hosting the opening rounds will add to Saudi Arabia's legacy as a global hub for international sporting spectacles with over 25 major football events held in the Kingdom in recent years.
 
Yasser Al Misehal, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), said: 'The fact that Al Nassr will be competing in the first edition of the AFC Women's Champions League is a proud moment for Saudi Arabian football, as we achieve another important football milestone in our transformational journey. We hope that this will keep inspiring a new generation of girls to engage with the sport'. 
 
Lamia Bahaian, SAFF Vice President commented: 'The speed of the journey to reach the pinnacle of women's club football in Asia is breathtaking. Women's football in the Kingdom is supported at every level but is only possible thanks to the skill, commitment and determination of all the players and coaches in the league. We all share in the excitement of this moment. For Saudi Arabia this is more than just competing this is a wonderful opportunity to connect, host and learn from the very best in the continent and we will welcome that with open arms. Our journey continues.'
 
Sara Khalid, Goalkeeper for the Saudi Arabian National Women's Team and Al Nassr, added: 'It's an incredible feeling to have qualified for the first edition of the AFC Women's Champions League. This moment is a testament to not only the work of everyone at Al Nassr to support us in our recent successful season, but from everyone within the Kingdom to help us grow the game in our country to this level'.
 
Women's football in Saudi Arabia has seen an 86% increase in women's participation within the sport since 2021, with over 70,000 schoolgirls now playing football across the Kingdom.