BAYAN SADAGAH

From Emergency Nurse To Saudi Arabia’s First Female Captain

Female soccer player in green uniform kicking a ball during a match on a grassy field.

AFC Champion

Bayan Sadagah’s success has shown young girls in Asia that being both a nurse and being a footballer is possible.

She encourages girls to be creative as the captain of the Saudi national team, making her deserving of a spot on the Champions of Progress edition of TREND 11, presented by NEOM, the global partner of the Asian Football Confederation.

Sadagah has been a role model for girls since her standout performances with the Jeddah Eagles team, which began winning titles in 2019, most notably the Jeddah League. At that time, women’s football in Saudi Arabia had not yet entered the realm of professionalism and investment. This didn’t deter Sadagah from pursuing her dream, which blossomed with the nation’s historic investment in women’s football from 2020.

That year saw the establishment of the Women’s Community League organised by the Saudi Sports for All Federation, which included 24 teams but consisted of only 9 fielded players in the transition phase. Sadagah contributed to Jeddah Eagles’ second-place finish and the silver medal, just behind the champion team, Al-Tahadi.

Regarding that period of amateurism and individual efforts, Sadagah told Forbes: “We played friendly matches and participated in unofficial leagues. With the emergence of more teams and increased support from the federation, I believe this is where history was made.”

Female soccer player in black and yellow striped uniform running on a field.

Her Professional Journey

Soccer player in green uniform running on field

Sadagah and her team transitioned to a new phase when the Saudi Football Federation decided to organise the first official tournament named the Women’s Regions League in 2021-22, featuring 16 teams, from which eight teams, including Sadagah's team-mates, qualified for the 2022 Women’s Kingdom Championship, which was the first seed for establishing the Saudi Women’s Premier League.

Her team’s success didn’t go unnoticed - Al-Ittihad acquired the Jeddah Eagles team, allowing her to wear the captain’s armband for her favourite club in the inaugural season of the Saudi Women’s Premier League 2022-23.

Due to her exceptional performances at full-back with Al-Ittihad, Saudi Women’s Premier League fans began to follow the talents of Saudi women in defensive roles. Sadagah’s dual roles in defence and attack helped her club thrive, and made the full-back position among the strongest at the club.

Sadagah’s influence also led to the emergence of new generations of young girls passionate about playing in defensive positions. She changed the perception of girls towards a love for playing these previously unfashionable roles.

February 2022 marked a historic turning point for Sadagah when she wore the captain’s armband for her national team in its first women’s international match against the Seychelles in the Maldives. Saudi Arabia made history and headlines around the world with a 2-0 victory.

Sadagah’s journey continued as she contributed to Saudi Arabia’s first title at the 2023 International Women’s Friendly Championship after victories over Comoros, Mauritius, and Pakistan.

Her participation with her national team in the 2024 West Asia Women’s Championship had a significant impact on her current generation, as it created a new phase in facing Asian challenges. Sadagah remarked: “This was our first participation in an official tournament. We reached a new stage, and the championship opened our eyes to the level we are at now. It was a great opportunity to assess ourselves and the progress we have made so far. We played against established and more experienced teams, and you can only learn from such matches.”

Sadagah continues to shine in the new season of the Saudi Women’s Premier League in 2024-25 with her club Al-Ittihad as the captain in the yellow and black jersey. The number of clubs in the competition has increased from eight to 10, presenting Sadagah with a new challenge both on and off the pitch as she continues to spread her message and inspire girls to excel in sports.

Four female soccer players in green uniforms celebrating on the field.

Soccer players in action during a match, wearing green and white jerseys, with a close-up on one player kicking the ball.

Soccer players training with cones on a grass field under a cloudy sky.

Her Social Impact

Fan Champion

As the captain of the Saudi women’s national team, Sadagah participated with members of her federation in one of FIFA's meetings to discuss the successes of the women’s football system in her country, which has brought many benefits to players, coaches, and clubs.

Sadagah’s presence and success demonstrated the successful women’s football system in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the professionalism level reached by players, which has led many women to treat sports as a profession they can aspire to in the country.

Sadagah also had a voice in supporting Saudi Arabia's bid to host the men’s 2034 World Cup, which she stated would bring immense benefits to the country. She said: “Hosting the World Cup will reflect our nation’s deep passion for football and how we are moving towards a dynamic modern society under Vision 2030. The energy of our youth is infectious and incredibly powerful.”

She added that hosting the World Cup in 2034 “will be a significant turning point” and will open new doors for young girls wishing to play football, referencing the success of the Women’s World Cup 2023 held in Australia and New Zealand as proof of how hosting a major tournament can have a ripple effect on grassroots participation.

She stated: “Honestly, I believe that it will allow us to taste that dream we have and see what was once viewed as impossible become a reality that we can imagine together, and we can do that for women, children, and the world.”

“If we look back a little and reflect on what happened last summer in women’s football around the world, in Australia, for example, the number of girls playing football increased significantly, and the country rallied together.

“Even with England hosting the Women’s European Championship, more female coaches were selected, and more women entered the field. I believe if this happens in Saudi Arabia, the growth and development we will witness will be truly amazing.”

Person balancing a soccer ball on their forehead in a field with tall grass.

Two women smiling and attentively watching something off-camera in a dimly lit setting.

“Hosting the World Cup will reflect our nation’s deep passion for football and how we are moving towards a dynamic modern society under Vision 2030. The energy of our youth is infectious and incredibly powerful.”

Bayan Sadagah

As captain of the Saudi national team, Sadagah has focused on media appearances to motivate girls to excel in football. She featured in the documentary film All Roads Lead Down Under, produced by FIFA, which highlighted the beginning of the journey of the Saudi women’s national team after playing its first international match on February 20, 2022.

In the documentary, Sadagah emphasised her team’s success in realising the dreams of players and the hopes of all Saudi girls aspiring to follow in their footsteps in the near future.

Charity Champion

Her Humanitarian Message

Person with long hair holding a microphone and wearing a black jacket with stripes on the sleeves, speaking on stage with a yellow and black background.

In the film, Sadagah explains how she managed to balance her daily job as an emergency room nurse with training schedules and matches for her club, Al-Ittihad, and captaining the national team.

The captain of the Saudi national team stated: “It was challenging to find balance between work and football. I found a way to manage both at the same time. Yes, it is exhausting and stressful, but football helped me.

Sadagah discussed how she succeeded in balancing football with her work as an emergency nurse, saying: “For a very long time, while football was still developing in the country, I was still working as a nurse in the emergency department for 12 hours a day. So, at that time, I was balancing two extremely demanding lifestyles: my job and career on one hand, and my love and passion for football on the other.”