The 2024–25 Saudi Women's First Division League is the third edition of the Saudi Women's First Division League, the second tier of women's football league in Saudi Arabia. It will be the first season after the restructuring of the two highest levels in Saudi women's football and the introduction of the Second Division League.[1][2]
On 25 September 2024, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation announced that the 2024–25 Saudi Women's First Division League matches would be broadcast on television for the first time via the (SAFF+) platform.[3]
Teams
Ten teams are set to compete in the 2024–25 First Division League season.[4] This follows a restructuring of the women's game aimed at providing more competitiveness. The number of teams has been reduced from 17 in the first edition and 26 in the second edition to just 10 this season.[5] The league will feature the nine teams that reached the final stages of the 2023–24 Saudi Women's First Division League (finishing 4th-12th) along with Al-Riyadh who got relegated from the Premier League.[6][7] On 12 June 2024, Chapter 5 acquired United Eagles FC.[8] On 11 July 2024, SAFF confirmed the ten participating teams. It was also announced that Al-Taqadom did not confirm its participation in the league within the previously specified timeframe by the Competitions Committee. and would be replaced by Al-Wehda who finished 13th in the last season.[9] On 6 September 2024, the Federation announced that the division would proceed with 9 teams instead of 10, following Al-Wehda's withdrawal from the competition due to logistical reasons.[10]
On 12 June 2024, SAFF implemented detailed changes regarding foreign players and Saudi-born (Al-Mawalled) players in the Women's First Division League for the 2024–2025 season. the main roster size has been reduced from 30 to 25 players. Teams are required to register a Saudi goalkeeper or a Saudi-born (Al-Mawaleed; player born in 2004 or later), and can register up to 2 Saudi-born (Al-Mawalled) players, with one permitted to play on the field. Further, the maximum number of foreign players allowed is 5.[11]
Updated to match(es) played on 28 December 2024. Source: SAFF Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored. Notes:
^Phoenix were deducted three points and fined SAR 125,000 for breaching Article 59-1 of the Disciplinary Code during their match against United Eagles on 8 November 2023.
Qualification and relegation column definitions
^Al Wehda, who had initially taken Al-Taqadom's spot after the latter was disbanded, also withdrew from the league, reducing the number of teams to 9. Al Wehda's relegation means that only one other team will be relegated, instead of the initial two.
Updated to match(es) played on 28 December 2024. Source: SAFF Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes
^The original fixture on November 8 was suspended with United Eagles leading 4–3 after 31' in the first half and 33' in the second. On November 12, the SAFF Disciplinary Committee ruled that Phoenix Club would forfeit the match, awarding United Eagles a 3–0 victory.
^"تقليص أولى السيدات إلى 10 فرق" [Reducing the Women's First Division to 10 Teams.]. arriyadiyah.com (in Arabic). 3 January 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
^"لأول مرة.. بث مباريات دوري الدرجة الأولى للسيدات" [For the first time.. broadcasting the matches of the Women's First Division League.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
^"رسميا.. إعلان تفاصيل دوري الدرجة الثانية السعودي للسيدات" [Officially... Announcement of Details of the Saudi Women's Second Division League.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024. '...The winner and runner-up of the Second Division will qualify for the First Division League, in exchange for two teams being relegated from the First Division...Where the teams who qualified for the final stage of the 2024/2023 season, along with one team relegated from the Premier League and excluding the three teams that got promoted, will constitute the 10 teams for the Women's First Division League in the next season.'
^"تقليل عدد فرق دوري الدرجة الأولى للسيدات" [The reduction of the number of teams in the Women's First Division League.]. slaati.com (in Arabic). 3 January 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
^"الرياض يهبط من الدوري السعودي الممتاز للسيدات" [Al-Riyadh is relegated from the Saudi Women's Premier League.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
^"إقامة دوري الدرجة الأولى للسيدات بمشاركة 9 أندية بعد اعتذار الوحدة" [Holding the Women's First Division League with the participation of 9 clubs after Al Wehda's withdrawal.]. saff.com.sa (in Arabic). Saudi Arabian Football Federation. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
^"تحديثات المسابقات النسائية لموسم 24 / 25" [Updates to Women's Competitions for the 24/25 Season]. saff.com.sa (in Arabic). Saudi Arabian Football Federation. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
