RIYADH — The Saudi Arabian women's national football team arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Thursday ahead of their historic debut in the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers, marking the team's first-ever official participation in the continent's flagship competition. The Green Falcons will open their Group B campaign on Sunday, June 29, against the Philippines, with further group matches scheduled against Hong Kong on July 2 and hosts Cambodia on July 5. This milestone appearance follows a 10-day preparatory camp in Bangkok, Thailand, under head coach Lluis Cortés, during which the squad underwent intensive training focused on tactical, physical, and technical development in a high-performance environment. Cortés selected a final squad of 23 players for the qualifiers: Sara Khalid, Muna Abdulrahman, Laila Ali, Raghad Mukhayzin, Layan Johari, Nouf Saud, Hala Khashoggi, Farida Ashraf, Shorouq Al-Hawsawi, Bayan Sadaqa, Lana Abdulrazzaq, Sara Al-Hamad, Maryam Al-Tamimi, Basmah Nawaf, Moudhi Abdulmohsen, Maram Al-Yahya, Saba Tawfiq, Ameera Abu Al-Samah, Fadwa Khaled, Fatimah Mansour, Albandari Mubarak, Safa Qaddour, and Shaimaa Mahmoud. Commenting on the historic moment, Alia Al-Rasheed, Head of the Women's Football Department at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), said: "This is a defining chapter in our football journey. The team's debut in the Asian Cup qualifiers is a powerful step forward for the women's game in the Kingdom. It reflects our strategic ambition to compete at the highest levels regionally and globally."
