FARAH JEFRY

Inspiring Saudi Girls To Live Her Dream

Woman in lace outfit with curls, earrings, and makeup, looking upward, seated indoors.

Farah Jefry is an icon of women's football in Saudi Arabia. Her ability and visibility is steadily transforming the nation's women's football community into a professional environment.

AFC Champion

Jefry has been a major draw for fans since the early days of women's football in Saudi. She turned her team, Jeddah Eagles, into a place where aspiring young female players can become professionals.

Farah has over half a million followers on Instagram, many of whom are young girls inspired by her, a testament to the growth of women's football in Saudi Arabia.

Her journey makes her a worthy addition to our Champions of Progress edition of TREND 11, presented by NEOM, the global partner of the Asian Football Confederation.

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A Successful Football Career

Soccer player in a black and yellow uniform performing a kick on a plain background.

Jefry’s journey to success began in 2019 when Jeddah Eagles won a regional competition. She then clinched the top scorer award in the 2020 Community Women’s Football League, which her team finished as runners-up.

She and her team embarked on a new phase when the Saudi Arabian Football Federation organised the first official tournament, the Women's Regional League in 2021-22 with the participation of 16 teams. Eight teams, including Jefry’s team-mates, qualified for the Saudi Arabia Women's Championship in 2022, which served as the foundation for the establishment of the Saudi Professional Women's League.

Due to the successes of Jefry’s team, historic men’s club Al-Ittihad acquired Jeddah Eagles, allowing the women's football star to wear the jersey of one of the largest Saudi clubs in the inaugural season of the Saudi Professional Women's League 2022-23.

In February 2022, Jefry reached a historic milestone when fellow TREND 11 Champions of Progress alumni and national team head coach Monika Staab named her in the first-ever Saudi Arabia women’s squad.

Three years later, the blossoming of women's football in Saudi Arabia now sees participation across three leagues: the Premier League, the First Division, and the Second Division. Jefry continues to play for Al-Ittihad, which is targeting a first Premier League title in 2023-24.

The league has become more competitive with the increase in the number of participating teams from 8 to 10, along with the implementation of a professional system, and the broadcasting of matches domestically and internationally within an investment environment that benefits players, clubs, and the overall structure of women's football.

Female soccer player in yellow jersey dribbling a pink and white ball on grass field with training mannequin and another player in the background.

Soccer player in green jersey practicing ball control on a grass field with mountains in background. Other players and cones are visible, suggesting a training session.

Embracing the Football Community

Fan Champion

Beyond her renowned status in women's football, Jefry actively engages with tourists visiting Saudi Arabia, a rapidly growing tourism destination in the Middle East.

She met with global football icon Lionel Messi during his visit to Jeddah in 2022, where he served as a tourism ambassador. Jefry presented Messi with her Saudi national team jersey.

She said: “I grew up watching Lionel Messi's brilliance on the field. He has always been an inspiration to me and millions worldwide. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to meet him.”

Jefry’s work off the pitch includes leveraging her draw beyond Saudi to raise awareness of authentic Saudi culture. She participated in a promotional campaign for Al-Ittihad on Saudi Foundation Day in 2024, donning a traditional white dress adorned with colourful beads, an outfit representative of the Western region, Hejaz.

Group of people in traditional and modern attire standing together, with a background of patterned textiles and plants.

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Two female soccer players in yellow jerseys on a field, one kicking a ball.

“I grew up watching Lionel Messi's brilliance on the field. He has always been an inspiration to me and millions worldwide. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to meet him.”

Farah Jefry

Inspiration and Humanitarian Contributions

Charity Champion

Jefry remains dedicated to inspiring future generations of Saudi women to pursue their football dreams.

In April 2024, she published a book titled Farah's Dream, which chronicled her journey to become a professional footballer. The book aims to motivate young girls to persevere in their pursuit of football.

Among the challenges she encourages young athletes to overcome, Jefry shared her experience with an ACL injury in 2023. Through social media, she documented her recovery process, sending inspiring messages to her followers and emphasising her unwavering determination.

People at a signing event with a black and yellow "Jeddah" banner, featuring two women signing autographs, a photographer, and a child with curly hair.

In collaboration with a brand partner, Jefry also launched a campaign to combat gender discrimination in sports. The campaign aimed to challenge stereotypes that associate football with masculinity and encourage women to embrace their athletic abilities.

This community-oriented campaign focused on promoting inclusivity and challenging negative perceptions about women in sports. Jefry encouraged female athletes to be confident, regardless of societal pressures – just as she has done so successfully in Saudi.